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5ss^£3ss^«ese£^^ 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 

Chap, p.5 J.Z5-^-.- 



,^U^"TED STATES OF AMERICA. | 



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I . ' I 

I ALBERT G. GREENE, 



DHrAKTMEXJ 



AMERICAN POETRY & PLAYS. 



rurchaseil at the sale of the Library of 

Kev. Rufns W. Giiswold, D. D. 1 

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ASPHODELS. 



SARAH GOULD 



" I love not less 
Earth's loveliest bloom — wood-Iiaiintinjj lily-bells, 

Daisy or violet — for all loveliness 
Of these I bring, — my fading Asphodels, 

Plucked on the hills of Immortality! 
But, dear memorials of faint-pulsed dreams. 
Fields never sere, and amber-paven streams, 

And angels leaning from their opal sky 
With your still dewy sweets, — 

I clasp you, though ye die 1" 



NEW YORK: 

PROOF-SHEETS 



1856. 




75 IV"^ 



.fi^ 



Entered, according to Act of Confess, in the j'ear 1S56, by 

SARAH GOULD, 

In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Die Southern District of 

New York. 



THOMAS B. SMITH, 
STEREOTTPER AWD ELECTROTTPBR, 

82 484BeekmanSt., N. Y. 



PREFACE 



It is pleasant to do good in however humble 
a sphere ; to lighten, if but a little, the heavy- 
burden which weighs on human hearts ; and touch 
the pained bosom of the sufterer with even the 
least potent hand of healing. 

The Poems here introduced are the sponta- 
neous effusions of the heart ; and appealing ra- 
ther to the heart, than to the critical intellect, 
they come from the half-privacy of the friendly 
circle, to select, by sympathy, a broader circle of 
friends, which, retaining something of the sancti- 
ty of the personal relation, will be but a broader 
privacy. 

That this new circle will be neither a cold, 
nor a narrow one, the present writer may be per- 



IV PREFACE. 

mitted to express liis confidence. These Poems 
come with the musical utterance of what is deep- 
est, and dearest in human hearts ; bringing words 
of faith, and love, and cheer ; of life, and im- 
mortahty. They seem consecrated, as by the bap- 
tismal hands of Elect Souls in Heaven, to the 
warm love of man, to the deep love of God. 

Throughout the whole collection, it will be 
found that a keen, appreciative, admiration of 
the grand and beautiful in visible nature, is sub- 
ordinated to the higher purposes of the moral, 
and spiritual nature. All the objects of sense 
are, constantly, transmuted, as by a magical touch, 
into images of the soul, and made to speak a 
language greater than they knew. 

The peculiar condition under which these Poems 
have had their origin, will cxj)lain, at once, their 
high spiritual stand-point, and the necessity for 
the rather delicate office which devolves upon this 
writer. 

They are — with the slight exception of some five- 
and-forty lines, — strictly, and absolutely, Trance- 
Improvisations, produced at the instant of uttering, 
and uttered in a state of essential unconscious- 
ness to outward objects. All that this uncon- 



PREFACE. V 

scioiisness fails of being complete, is apparent in 
the fact that outward disturbances destroy the 
integrity of the spiritual image, into which they 
are often adopted, without however, leaving any 
indications of their character, in the broken reflec- 
tion they produce. It is as if a pebble dropped 
in a clear pool, should disturb the mirrored beauty 
of a child's delighted face, while the waters gave 
no image of the disturbing cause. 

Of the nature of this Trance, and the.. .i^jiDsyn.-. 
crasies of its subject,- the reader will find, among 
the Notes appended to this^oliiaie, a^keeiL aur 
alysisj excellent for its intria^C' truthfulness and 
beauty ; and peculiarly interesting^ to man^, as. 
coming from the departed -spirit of an acut^-asholar,- 
a close- observer of human nature, and a lovely 
Wmi. 

It has been the privilege of the present writer, 
to witness the creation of many of the Poems, 
here offered to the public, and under the most 
favorable circumstances to test the genuineness 
of the improvisation ; a test not unimportant ; 
for, while no one in the least acquainted with 
their author, could doubt the spontaneity of their 
productiori, others might suppose that in the very 



VI* PREFACE. 

unconsciousness which is claimed for her, there 
is ground for doubt whether thej'- may not be 
mere recitations of premeditated poems. 

While their author is in that state of deep ab- 
straction from which the poems are given, one, 
not immediately en rapioort with her, may quietly 
come and go, unnoticed ; and entire strangers may 
be introduced, brought into communication, and 
withdrawn, without leaving any trace upon her 
waking recollection. To such she has often given, 
in strains of a high order of poetry, the inmost se- 
crets of their hearts, and the vailed history of 
their lives, of a nature too purely private to ap- 
pear in this collection. 

One word concerning the question of Original- 
ity, before we make our bow, and leave the reader 
to better company. The impressions, here pro- 
duced as expressions, are, seemingly, the result of 
actual vision ; sometimes claiming a direct spirit- 
ual influence. The spirit in communication is, 
then, described as presenting symbols, whose riglit 
interpretation, and rendering into current Eng- 
lish, depend entirely upon the seer. It seems to 
be the vagueness of the poetical faculty elevated 
to the distinctness of actual sight. 



P R PJ F A C E . VU 

The language, rhythm, structure, and entire ma- 
chinery of the expression, are as completely the 
speaker's, as in the case of any author ; and the 
ideas themselves, if ever pre-existent in the mind 
of another, and presented by a definite intention, 
are so presented through objects of the natural 
sense, symbols never preconcerted, that it de- 
mands as keen a perception to catch the mean- 
ing, as that by which ordinary poetry is made to 
interpret nature to the common mind. While 
with that there is left the broadest latitude of 
interpretation, with this peculiar inspiration the 
seer must seek a definite moral. 

To judge f]-om the examples which have come 
under the observation of this writer, it appears 
to him, that the process, in the production of 
these poems, is precisely analogous to the pro- 
duction of mental images, from sensible objects 
in the ordinary operations of the mind ; with the 
difference of facility resulting from the abnormal 
condition. 

These observations are made neither to excite 
astonishment, nor to deprecate criticism, but to 
put the reader in possession of the stand-point 
from which the Poems were given, and can best 



PREFACE. 



be understood. They must stand, or fall, on their 
own merits as works of art, as emanations from 
the great Soul of Beauty and Love. 

a. s. B. 



\ 



CONTENTS. 



PAGE 

■ MINISTRATIONS 13 

PROPHETIC GLIMPSES 16 

THE TWIN ANGELS 19 

RESTORATION 22 

■THERE REMAINETH A REST TO THE PEOPLE OP GOD 24 

HEART-RICH 2t 

A LIFE SYMBOL 29 

• FREED 33 

. AN ECSTASY 34 

ANDREW JACKSON DAVIS 3*7 

CANZONETTA. TO LITTLE FLOY 40 

TEMPEST TOSSED 42 

THE LOVE CIRCLE 45 

THE RIVULET 50 

RECOGNITION 54 

LIGHT IN DARKNESS 56 

INFANT REMINISCENCE , 61 

HEAVENLY PEACE C3 

SARAH HELEN WHITMAN 65 

UNCHANGED 68 

IRENE 69 

THE LIFTED VAIL "72 

■ CROSS AND CROWN 75 



X CONTENTS. 

PACE 

IIUJIAX LOTE 78 

THE DARK RIVER 79 

THE BRIGHT RIVER 83 

THE VIOLET 88 

LATENT JOY 8D 

THE OAK 93 

■ THE COXSECRATION 95 

AVE MARIA 105 

TO* LOTTIE 107 

THE PROMISE 110 

RHYTHMIC CONTRASTS 112 

THE DIFFERENCE 115 

FLOWER FAYS 116 

REVERIE 122 

RUTH 124 

CLARE AND LILLIE 125 

SONG OF THE CHILDREN 130 

TO GEORGE SUEPARD BURLEIGH 135 

LIFE'S MYSTERY 140 

THE JOY OF ACTION 143 

love's IMMORTALITY 143 

THY MOTHER. .,...., 151 

INVOCATION ,.......,, 154 

SERPENT HORROR. 157 

AN ADMONITION . , 164 

SALUTATION AND CHEER , , 166 

PROFESSOR , 168 

FORESHADOWINGS 172 

RIVAL CLAIMS 176 

SUPPLICATION. TO LIZZIE 179 

THE HEALING GIFT 180 

TO G. S. B 184. 

NELL : 185 

SPIRIT mother's prayer 189 

THE VISION 192 



CONTENTS. XI 

PAGK 

THE NEW REVELATION 199 

SECRET WORTH 200 

THE DEAD BABY 201 

VIRGIN ISLAND 205 

PHANTASY 207 

LITTLE MOSS ROSE 212 

HELPING HANDS 213 

PAULINE 215 

THE JEWELED HEAVENS 216 

A. K. F. 1 219 

A. K. F. II 220 

RECONCILIATION 221 

RENUNCIATION 224 

NOTES 229 



MINISTRATIONS. 



There are forms of beauty, bending, 
Ever bending o'er your way ; 
And they scatter blessings roimd you, 
As the night distills its dew ; 
And their presence lights your spirits. 
As the sunshine lights the day ; 
And no cloud of sorrow rises, 

But their soft eyes twuikle through ! 

There are angels bright, who Ungcr, 
Ever linger by your side ; 
Ever watching, ever waiting, — 
Only watchmg for your good; 
With their white arms stretched protectingly, 
If evil should betide, 
Nourishing your hungry spirits. 
With their own ambrosial food. 



14 MINISTEATIONS. 

In the noon-day there are voices, 
Voices in the noon of night, 
Which are whispering, of heaven, 
Words of glory and of joy; 
Oh, then listen, closely listen ! 

They will thrill you with delight, — 
Stories of their blissfulness, 
Of a bUss without aUoy. 

There are touches Avhich are thrilling. 
Thrilling with a power intense. 
Through the inmost depths of feeling, 
Till ye know the hand that blesses. 
As a holy consecration, is 
Baptizing every sense, 
In the sweet, and sacred influence 
Of their heavenly caresses. 

There are most ecstatic visions, 

Visions that like starbeams come; 
While the tones of the departed 
Waken holiest memories, — 
Till there comes a childlike yearning 
For your spirit's cherished home. 
In the Father's blessed presence. 
In the bowers of Paradise. 



MINISTRATIONS. 15 



There are heavenly revelations, 
Revelations pure, and high. 
That will flash athwart the spirit, 
As the lightning's fiery darts. 
Giving glimpses of the glory 

Flashing on the inward eye. 
Till a hallowed sense of blessedness 
Comes conquering your hearts. 



PROPHETIC GLIMPSES. 



A LIGHT upon my spiiit gleams, 
A light I rather feel than see ; 

It comes as come exalted dreams 
In hours of hoUest ecstasy. 

And deep within my inmost soul, 
While aU my waiting senses kneel, 

High glories to my view unroU, 
That language fails me to reveal. 

A meaning strange and sweet I see 
In every thing, above, around, 

Or in the haze of mystery, 

Or beings simple, or profound ; 

The music of the gurgling riU, 
By careless souls not understood ; 

The incense-cups the flowers fill 
With stories of the quiet wood ; 



PKOPHETIC GLIMPSES. 17 

In twilight's mellow distances, 

The momentary hush of noon, 
In midnight's mute solemnities, 

And morn's exhilarating tune; 

The pattering feet of dancmg rain, 

Mysterious voices of the wind, 
In the deep ocean's solemn strain, 

And deeper ocean of the mind. 

As here thy spirit hand I hold. 

Thy fleshly robes are drawn away, 

I see thy inner form unfold, 

From aU the windings of its clay. 

I see it scarred with wrong, and strife ; 

Malice hath grazed it with her wand. 
And the fell foes of truest life, 

In frowning aspect, round it stand. 

Oh, heed them not, the senseless horde 
Who track thee on thy lofty way, 

"Whose blackening thought, and act, and word, 
"Would stain the very heart of day. 



18 - PROPHETIC GLIMPSES. 

Oh, listen to the stram I hear ! 

It comes, loud swelling, once again, 
And breaks npon my ravished ear, 

A conquering, a \ictorious strain I 

Mark the high triumph of the song, 
Now home so sweetly on the gale ; 

Ah, never more can False, and Wrong, 
Over the True, and Right, prevail. 



Then calmly front the cloud, and storm, 
And work thy work with patient will. 

Faith, Hope, and Love, thy heart shaU warm. 
And their own prophecies fulfill. 



THE TWIN ANGELS. 



Oh, a little blue-eyed angel 
Bending from the calm serene, 

Seems she like a sweet Evangel, 
With her gentle look and mien. 

Flaxen are her flomng tresses, 
SUvery in the sheeny hght, 

Not an angel looks, but blesses 

This young seraph, heavenly bright. 

There 's another bud of sweetness 
Hanging just above us now, 

Oh, how rich in their completeness 
Are her radiant cheek and brow ! 

Ringlets ebon black, and glossy, 
Fall her slender waist below, 

As a gauzy mantle flossy, 
Wavmg ever to and fro. 



20 THE TWIN ANGELS. 

And her eyes flasli vibratory 

Blackness, like a midnight storm, 

Yet pervaded by a glory 
That irradiates her form. 



Arms of argent they are twining, 
Laughing as if full of glee ; 

And I inly muse, divining 

Who this younger one may be. 

Lo, she bends to me with kisses 
From those lips of ruddy hue; 

They 're our darling little Lizzie's, 
Sweet as morn, with song and dew ! 

Oh, the rapture of their singing ! 

I can almost catch the rhyme. 
All the while their white arms flinging 

Here and there, in keeping time. 

"Weaving, now, the gayest dances 
With the countless cherubs there ; 

In their whirls it often chances 
Lizzie's rin filets frolic where 



T n K T W I N A N G E L S . 21 

Lydia's silken locks are flowing, — 

As a cloudlet, pearly white. 
Where the twilight shades are growing. 

Still retains the sun's soft light. 

Thus, in all their infant features, 

Married differences shine, 
But so perfect are their natures, 

So entirely intert\vme. 

In a graceful harmoni2dng. 

That their blended spirits seem 
As two stars, that, in their rising, 

Twinkle with the self-same gleam. 



RESTORATION, 



We grope through the dark, 
And shrink in dismay, 

From the phantom-eyes stark, 
That glare out on our way : 

And Ave tremble, vnih fear, 
At our own spirit's tread, 

Clinging fast to some dear 
Hope, Aothered and dead ; 

Which, nathless, Avould hold us 

In fealty still. 
Ever seeking to fold us 

Firm boimd to its will : 

Till we catch the low tone 
Of a Voice that is clear ; 

And the distant Unknown 
Is a huninous Here, 



RESTORATION. 23 

Which kindles our feelings, 

And quickens our sight, 
With glorious revealings 

Of beauty, and light. 

And in that awakmg, 

We feel the rebound 
From our soul-leap in taking 

A measure j^rofound 

Of the chaos, inclosing 

Our innermost sense, 
As Islands reposmg 

Mid ocean's Immense. 

And, born into duty. 

We -walk the new road, 
Through labor to Beauty, 

Through Beauty to God ; 

The phantoms of terror 

Fall stricken, and stark, 
And Truth pierces Error, 

Light pierces the Dark. 



THERE REMAINETH A REST 

TO THE PEOPLE OF GOD. 



Sweet promise ! the bruised and the sad ones of earth, 
Who are sorrowing under affliction's hard rod, 

This thought — oh, their bosoms may best know its 
Avorth ; 
" There remameth a rest to the people of God !'' 

Then cheer up, ye mourners, your tears wipe away, 
And Uft your sad eyes to that bUssful abode ; 

Though the fruitage of joy, upon earth, may decay, 
" There remaineth a rest to the people of God !" 

Tired pilgrim ! oppressed and o'erladen with care, 
Who art toiling in sorrow o'er life's weary road, 

Take courage, press on, never yield to despair ; 
" There remaineth a rest to the people of God !" 



THERE REMAINETH A REST. 25 

And you, wlio in sorrow and suftering pine, 

On couches of sickness ; though anguish corrode, 

Let joy with your sorrow supremely combine, 
" There remaineth a rest to the people of God !" 

Thou mother, who mournest, almost in despair, 

Thy daughter, thy darling, consigned to the shroud, 

Oh, yield not to trouble, take refuge in prayer ; 
" There remaineth a rest to the people of God !" 

Surrender thy gi-ief to a chastened delight, 

That o'er her j^ure spirit there comes not a cloud. 

Of sin, or of sorrow, to tarnish its light, 

Where " remaineth a rest to the people of God !" 

She moves in white raiment, immortal and fair, 

And though in deep shadow now seems your abode, — 

Her sunlight departed, oh think of her, where 
" There remaineth a rest to the people of God !" 

And there thou shalt meet her, and share her embrace, 
With spirits perfected in beauty, and good ; 

Oh, rapture transporting ! oh, infinite Grace ! 
" There remaineth a rest to the people of God !" 



26 THERK REMAINETH A REST. 

Thou servant of Christ ! who hast faithfully borne 
The yoke of thy Master, thy weary life-load, 

Remember, though now a sad victim of scorn, 
" There remaineth a rest to the people of God !" 

Oh, delectable rest ! most holy, secure, 
To mingle for aye, in that happy abode. 

With those we have loved, mth the good, and the pure, 
This rest, holy rest, " for the people of God !» 



HEART-RICH. 



Thy love, how rich m its excess, 
How fervent, and how manifold ; 

Thy overflowmg tenderness. 

And sympathetic wealth untold ! 

Blest spirits from the higher sphere 
Bend lovingly, thy pathway o'er ; 

Angels of beauty linger near. 

Their blessings on thy head to pour. 

Think what a privilege it is, 

A life so roseate as thine, 
A treasury of sweetest bliss. 

The largess of a love divuie. 

I count thy treasures, so rej)lcte 

With all that could delight, or bless. 

And, lady ! I can but repeat. 
Thy Ufe should be a blessedness ! 



HEAR T-R I C H. 

In all thy liueaments I trace 

A gentle nature, undefiled 
By the rude storms, that oft efface 

The attributes of Love's sweet child. 

Then, in thy very sweetness strong, 
Securely may thy soul rejoice, 

And living gladness swell the song 
To which thy spirit finds a voice. 



A LIFE SYMBOL. 



Like some mighty river flowing 

Onward to the ocean bhie, 
In the sunshine brightly glowing, 

Gleams thy spirit on my view. 
Backward, I its course can follow 

To the fountain whence it sprung. 
In a quiet woodland hollow, 

AYhere the Fays and Dryads sung. 

Oh, how tranquil and how quiet 

Was this sheltered little nook ! 
Seemed forever lingering by it, 

Joys, that brightest coloring took. 
Wide its wealth of waters spreading 

To the sun's benignant smile, 
Would it linger, softly shedding, 

Light for lent light, back the while. 



30 



Darksome bank, and rock-ledge curbed it, 

Even in its earliest flow, 
And rude rapids oft disturbed it, 

Through its depths and windings low. 
Still forever faster, brighter, 

Sped it on its deep'ning way ; 
Even the nightly dark grew lighter 

"With clear promises of day. 

Rose at length a towering mountain 

Full before the gentle stream ; 
Backward, to its prunal fountain, 

Turned it, with a saddened gleam. 
Then the darkness, and the sadness. 

Chilled its young activities. 
Tempered all its gushing gladness, 

With the taint of sorrow's lees. 

Still it might not linger, listless, 

Even in its native glen; 
Flowing, but no more resistless, 

Stole it on, and on again ; 
But in spite of green hopes, blighted. 

And a young heart's cherished schemes, 
Floating darkly, save when guided 

By the lurid lightning's gleams. 



A LIFE SYMBOL. 31 

Yet to those who well can render 

The dim riddle of thy hfe, 
Lui-ks the strength of manhood, under 

Stagnant calm, and stormy strife. 
Starry thoughts out-twinkle keenly 

On the skj^-arch of thy night, 
And the moon, with luster queenly, 

Walks in Feeling's softer Ught. 

But the chilly night is ending ; 

Swiftly comes the ruddy morn ; 
Swifter is thy life-stream, tending 

To its destined ocean-bourn. 
On the hills, already, twitter 

Heralds of approaching day, 
And the curls of morning glitter. 

Where the curtaining dark gives way. 

Then, oh then, be strong and fearless ! 

Mid thy fellows walk more bold ; 
For, before thy spirit peerless. 

Open glories manifold. 
In the path of noblest duty 

Walk thou, with a manly tread ; 
And the true life's hoUest beauty 

Shall a glory on thee shed. 



32 ALIFESYMBO-L. 

Lesser souls shall catch the assurance, 

Then, that crowns thy life with bliss, 
It will strengthen their endurance, 

Climbing crag, and precipice, 
In endeavor stern, and trying. 

In the conflict vrith their Avrongs, 
Till from lips, all faint with sighing, 

Shall ascend triumphant songs ! 

Angel arms unseen infold thee. 

And the highest, supreme Heart, 
As a child beloved shall hold thee, 

Pledged to every noble part. 
So I read the divination 

Of thy life stream's changing flow, 
To the glorious consummation 

That the just alone may know. 



FREED! 



Father, I thank thee ! Thou hast called my child 

Back to thyself, and to its home in heaven ! 
No more above his bed, in anguish wild, 

Through the dark night-houi's will my prayers be 
given ; 
No more at day-break Avill the dreaded horn. 

From the sick sufferer, summon me away ; 
No more, from his embraces rudely torn, 

I go, despairing, to my gloomy day ! 
'T was a rich gift, O Father, that proud boy ; 

Gladdenmg my bosom with his eye of light ; 
And though in him was centered all life's joy, 

Over its beauty hung a nameless blight ! 
But now, my bliss is mixed with no alloy ; 

Now is my darling born an Angel free, and white ! 
2* 



AN ECSTASY. 



Oh ! strike the mute lyre ! 
Awake its full fire 

Once again ; 
Pour forth, all around, 
That musical sound, 

That sweet strain. 

With the last tone's receding, 
Bright angels were speeding, 

Full of love, 
With their pinions spread, fair, 
On the jubilant air, 

Far above. 

Breathe softly that strain ! 
They are coming again. 
See ye not ? 



AN ECSTASY. 35 

Softer yet ! they will hear ; 
They are near, very near 
To this spot. 

I can count them ! ah, no ! 
For so swiftly they go 

Trooping by. 
So fitftilly gleammg. 
My hot tears are streaming, 

As they fly. 

Softly, soft ! for I know 
They are Avhispering now ; 

Ah, the strain ! 
Now, seraphic and clear, 
It falls full on mine ear ; 

And again 

Comes anothei-, more loud. 
And see, through that cloud,— 

Oh my brain ! 
How it whirls, as I gaze, 
And my strength, in amaze, 

Sinks, as slain. 



36 AN ECSTASY, 

For that strange flood of light 
Has bewildered my sight. 

Play no more ! 
Such a sweet dream of heaven 
To my spirit was given 

Ne'er before. 

Ah ! no more I behold. 
For I shiver Avith cold, 

And ice-chill 
Are the drops on my brow. 
And my blood, in its flow, 

Becomes still ! 



TO A ITBuD i DiW i i> i |i i #!ii li ^ni*'gl.i¥i D . 



i^niinf tihiiaJiighr-itTnT'''^*'! "^ — IT ^'" ^^°" 
Eoid m^JQiore closely in thy .pure ejubEattR 
Oh, crowiimg joy ! above all joys beside, 
To feel, throughout my inmost being, glide 
This influence sweet, so wholly sweet, and high. 
It fills like sunlight all my mental sky. 

Thou heart of hearts ! pure, gentle, and benign, 
Strengthen, improve, inspire, this heart of mine. 
As the dull earth the sunbeams penetrate, 
So rays of thine my spirit permeate ; 
And clear, along its vailed way, I trace 
The high unfolduigs of the Infinite Grace, 
In thy unfettered, and fai'-reaching mind, 
Prophet, and Priest, and Lover of thy kind ! 

O, I could bow in silence, and revere 

One scarcely fettered to this mortal sphere, 



38 



Such inward glory sits upon thy brow, 

And, from thy lips, so heavenly teachings flow. 

Timid with awe, at first, I feared to roam 

The exalted sphere which forms thy spirit's home. 

Though strength, and greatness, on thy steps attend, 
The gentler virtues with their rigors blend. 
Sweet Love and "Wisdom, in thy spu-it mild. 
And unassuming as a little chUd, 
Simj)le and truthful, earnest and sincei'e ; 
We can but love thee, whom we so revere. 

Though all around, as waiting thy command. 
With brows severe, the souls of Wisdom stand, 
Seraphs of Love on wings irradiant fly. 
Flashing athwart the clearness of thy sky. 
In dazzling gleams of such immortal Ught, 
My eyelids droop to shield my tranced sight. 

And now, methinks, more vast the arches grow ; 
Oh God ! what see I, passing to and fro ? 
Beings perfected so beyond compare, 
Fining with fragrance aU the ravished air. 
And the wide hum of such entrancing strains. 
The languid blood seems sleeping in my veins ! 

This deep excess of sweetness pours around 
A flood of glory, and a flood of sound, 



TO A'«-DRi;W JACK&ON DAVIS. 39 

Of such melodious, and pervading power, 
'T will date, in me, new eras from this hour, 
Of a more noble sense of high and true, 
More lovely love, and beauty's fairer hue. 
This blessed vision shall return, in gleams, 
Dazzling but soft, to aU my golden dreams. 
And spite of sorrow, pain, and inward strife, 
Wreath a bright halo round my future life. 

O, gentle spirit ! whose serene control 
Moves to exalt and purify my soul ; 
Whose inspirations, hopeful and sublime, 
ShaU work then- purpose to remotest time, — 
If 'tis more blest to give, than to receive, 
Mildest of Mentors, well may I believe. 
The rapturous joys, that on my soul attend. 
This hour, on thee in deeper streams descend. 

Ah, yes ! I see, as I may ne'er impart, 
How beats thy heart with the Eternal Heart ! 
How soul to soul, and mind to mastering mind, 
Thy thoughts, in God, their sphermg center find ; 
How His high glories, with too rich excess. 
In hearts like thine their vaUed beams express, 
Humanely vailed to spare our feebleness ; 
While the fair temple, now thy soul's abode. 
Glows with the presence of the living God. 



C ANZONETTA, 



TO LITTLE FLOY. 



Leaf, and bud, and blossom, 

As ye spring to birth, 
On the bounteous bosom 

Of our mother earth. 
Ye dispel all sadness, 

Put to flight all care, 
Make delight, and gladness, 

Leap up every where I 

Dreary ! O, how dreary ! 

"Were this world of ours. 
And how sad and weary, 

But for the sweet flowers. 
What a dismal glooming 

Darkens every scene 
Where no flowers are blooming, 

Where no leaves are green. 



C ANZONETTA. 41 

Floy ! within thy bosom, 

Waiting thy command, 
Are leaf, bud, and blossom, 

Ready to expand. 
Thou their growth must cherish, 

Nurture their perfume. 
Or will droop, and perish. 

Leaf, and bud, and bloom. 

When thou shalt aiTay them. 

Beautiful and bright. 
Angels shall convey them 

To the realms of light. 
There to bloom forever 

In celestial bowers. 
Where no winter ever 

Blights the precious flowers. 



TEMPEST-TOSSED. 



When the wild, wild winds awake from sleep, 
And over the earth in fury sweej). 
From angry sky to bellowing deep, 
Come terror and dismay. 

Changing forever, from quick to slow, 
Fearfully loud, or strangely low, 
They fill us with awe, as on they go, 
Enveloped in mystery. 

When the dread storm-spirit sends them forth. 
From the far, far regions of the north, 
Earth tremblingly shrinks as if most loth 
To encounter their array. 

They hurry along, and laugh, to mock 
The quivering trees, which seem to flock 
Closely together, and wait the shock 
Of the terrible affray ! 



TEMPEST-TOSSED. 43 

The proudest ash, and the mighty oak, 
Are shorn of strength by then- sturdy stroke, 
And their giant Hmbs are twirled and broke, 
And in scattered fragments lie. 

And feebler ones, that had fondly made 
Their humble homes in its spreading shade, 
Nor felt, in its shelteruig arms, afraid, — 
Their shivered honors fly ! 

As helpless, oh timid soul, art thou, 
And wilt need some sheltering oak, I trow. 
When the storms of Ufe shall fiercely blow. 
In hurricanes on thee. 

Look up ! look up, to the blest abode ! 
Lean on the arm of thy Saviour God, 
Confidingly, as thou walk'st life's road ; 

For thy sheltering guide, is He. 

Oh yes! but the tension of mind will tire, 
In this upward gaze, and thy soul desire 
One like itself, though it were higher, 
Its Guardian to be. 



44 TEMPEST-TOSSED. 

Ah, ever may friendship over me fling 
The shielding cloak of its sheltering wing ; 
A faithful friend is a precious thmg, 
And a sacred one to me. 

The sweetest thought to my spirit given 
Of our final home in the halls of heaven, 
Is this, that the ties will ne'er be riven, 
Of fi-iends in Eternity. 



THE LOVE CIRCLE. 



Never taken for another 
Could he be, thy peerless brother, 
Radiant as eastern skies 
With the crims'ning of sunrise, 
As, in loving-kindness, he 
Bends a Christ-look over thee. 

List ! oh, Usten ! he is seeking, 
With a musical, low, speaking, 
Both our spirits to impress 
With the sweetest tenderness ; 
More uispiring me, the whUe, 
With the sunlight of his smile. 

Palpitating nerves, be still ! 
Hush thy waywardness, my mil ! 



THE LOVE CIRCLE. 

Pulses, yet more noiseless beat, 
And, as in the heart you meet, 
Let no sudden thrill declare 
All the rapture throbbing there. 

Oh, what transports thrill my frame ! 
As a glory-kindhng flame, 
These divine revealings flow, 
Permeating, through and through, 
All my mmost depths of being, 
Till my life seems fleeing, fleeing. 

Hark ! he says, or seems to say, 

" Would'st thou heavenly realms survey, 

Leave thy clay, and soar vnth me, 

Not with feai', but trustingly ; 

Every hold on earth let go ; 

I will keej) thy spirit now." 

For a moment I waver to and fro 

As a bird will swing on a swaying bough, 

Then upward, as swift as the rushing storm, 

I am borne, as I cling to his perfect form ; 

On, and on, over fields of ether. 

Through limitless realms Ave soar together I 



THE LOVE CIRCLE. 47 

And now in the midst of a glorious band, 

In the midst of a glorious scene, I stand ; 

His circle above, is a Circle of Love ; 

In the smile of the Father they live, and move ; 

Through my inmost nature its glow I feel, 

As, with reverent love, at His feet I kneel. 

" Father ! dear Fatner !" I joyfully cry, 
And the voice is echoed along the sky ; 
As the sweet appeal to my lip is springing. 
From angel tongues is an anthem ringing. 
And I join in the chorus, " Oh, Father, dear !" 
And lovingly nestle to Him more near. 

Now on my forehead rests, gently caressing, 
A nail-scarred hand overfull of blessing. 
And, "Daughter beloved," He saith, "arise !" 
As wdth tearful eyes, in a glad surprise, 
I feel the blessing, a holy presence. 
Thrill my soul to its ultimate essence. 

I turn to the beautiful spirit band, 
Where my radiant angel guide doth stand. 
With his glittering wings but half out-spread ; 
And a halo of glory around his head. 



48 THE LOVE CIRCLE. 

That, over his flowing curls of broT\Ti, 
Sheds a threefold luster, a triple crown. 

Brightest, he seems, of the brilliant throng, 
And as now, \vith wide wings waved along, 
They are onward borne 'niid the amber clouds, 
Oh, God ! how each flasliing pinion crowds 
With crimson glories my reeling brain, 
TUl my eyehds droop Avith their Aveight of pain ! 

Right hither their rapid way they Aving, 

Dear Christ ! what a rapturous song they sing ! 

Such somids have never my spirit stirred ; 

Oh Ust ; for methinks, I can catch some Avord, — 

"Love! Love!" is the chorus, and LoA-e the theme; 

Oh, can it be but a fleeting dream ! 

A golden lyre they have given me ; 

I touch its strmgs in an ecstasy, 

And gushing song from my soul is leaping. 

And two wings start, from my shoulders SAveepuig ; 

With a sudden joy their strength I unfold, 

And am dazzled by gleams of their purple and gold. 

Oh beautiful wings ! aa^II ye bear me on 

Where the angel band in their flight haA'e gone ? 



THE LOYE CIRCLE. 49 

Methinks their pinions, for me, they stay ; 
Ah, yet, ! and they beckon to call me away ; 
I am heard ! like a bird I am gayly up-winging 
My flight, through the light, 'mid the perfumes and 
singing. 

Stay ! stay for a moment ! blest vision of light, 
Let me know, ere I go, if I see thee aright. 
I snufi" the old earth-air, its vapors I view 
Surrounding the band of my loved ones, and true ; 
The choir of the angels grows dim, and more dim, 
The fairest fades last, till I lose even him. 

Give, angel ! I pray thee, some delicate token. 
Reminding of thee, when this spell shall be broken; 
Some beauty that here, in thy heaven, had its birth, 
"Which I may bear with me, to gladden my earth ; 
And grant, gentle spirit, again that I come 
To this Circle of Love, in thy radiant home. 
3 



THE RIVULET. 



A LITTLE Stream Avent flowiug, 

And twittering, toward the sea, 
With Httle flowerets blowing 

Beside it, tenderly. 
Tall trees, their arms above it 

With sheltering kindness spread ; 
Right well did sunbeams love it, 

And genial smiles they shed. 

The earth nnvailed her bosom 

That she might shield its flow, 
And leaping bud, and blossom, 

Kissed oft, its placid brow. 
The still and solemn midnight 

Its holy influence lent ; 
With the sacred moon's half-hid light, 

And whispering star beams blent. 



THE RIVULET, 51 

All heavenly visitations, 

To gladden the sweet stream, — 
All Avreathed exhalations, 

"Were mingled with its dream. 
The silent darkness doubled, 

Just ere the morning broke, 
Its seeming depth, untroubled. 

Till a breezy laughter woke. 
The tAvilight oft would linger, 

Entranced, above it long, 
As a maid, with lifted finger. 

Stands listening to a song. 

Its evening song was rarest 

Of any, through the day. 
When sunny beams, the fliirest. 

Would steal back from their way 
Up the western hills, and over. 

To kiss its brow of night ; 
And each reluctant lover, 

Ere yet he took his flight, — 
In purple, and pink, and yellow, 

In crimson and m blue, 
In every shading mellow. 

And plensiiig to the view, 



52 THE RIVULET, 

Would deck hiniself with splendor, 
As a gorgeous Son of Light, 

And with a blush, most tender. 

Would whisper a low " Good-night !" 

The plants and tree-roots twining, 

Through dry earth, parched with thirst, 
Would drmk, and their fruits, into shining 

And beautiful globes, Avould burst. 
No poisonous leaf or blossom, 

Distained its tranquil flow, 
Though on its lovely bosom 

They floated, to and fro, 
And because it ever went gliding 

Round rock, and crag, and hill. 
Some said 't Avas faithless, bidmg 

No certain course, or will. 

Its motions were so noiseless, 

The bubbles, as they broke 
On the pebbly brink, leapt A^oiceless ; 

Not an Echo-nymph awoke, 
Till its laughing cascades, bounding, 

Went dovm. the hills with a leap. 



5;3 



Such a glecsoine music soundiug 
That the Naiads sprang from sleep , 

And thus, wdth a tranced motion, 
An even step, and true. 

Life's flowery vale, to the ocean, 
It danced and twittered through. 



RECOGNITION. 



Lady ! as one, amid the admiring throng 
Of worshipers, I fain would pour a song 
Of love and gratitude, though faint to tell 
The echoing strains that ui ray bosom swell, 
And the sweet influence that is o'er me throwii, 
As thrills, through mine, thy soul's melodious tone. 

I see thee walking, hand in hand, with Fame ; 
I hear the throbbings of the loud acclaim 
Of souls, who, at the tremblings of thy lyre 
Catch inspiration from its chords of fire ; 
Whilst thou, in regnant beauty, as a queen, 
Rul'st in all hearts, with dignity serene. 

Oh, could my song give language to my heart, 
What answermg music from thy own would start! 
But my imtutored tongue is poor, and weak, 
The sUent victories of thy soul to speak. 



RECOGNITION. 55 

I will not soar to match my harp with thine, — 
But little lakes reflect the great sunshine, 
And little birds, with chirping carols gay, 
Herald the coming of the King of Day ; 
So bubbling, twittering, stammering, I try 
To teach my lyre some fitting melody, 
Or yet some prayer, in deep'ning love, to pou 
That God may keep, and bless thee, evermore 



1 



LIGHT IN DARKNESS, 



Ah, hast thou borne the load of care, 
That weighs the si^irit down ? 

Drank the black waters of despair, 
Thy every hope that drown ? 

Seen all the stars of joy go out, 

As, one by one, they sank 
Into the soundless sea of doubt, 

Lea\ang thy heavens a blank? 

Felt, as a flame, the darkness burn 

Into thy fainting heart, 
And could nor sun, nor moon discern, 

Their healing to impart ? 



LIGHT IN DARKNESS. 67 

Felt darksome doubts, and nameless fears, 

Crowding upon thy brain, 
While the deep fount of mellowing tears 

"Withheld refreshing rain ? 

Felt in thy soul as desolate. 

Unfriended, and alone, 
As chained, by some relentless fate, 

To the Promethean stone ? 

Ah, yes ! the vulture's beak I see 

Smite on thy spirit form. 
And the swift hail of agony, 

And sorrow's whelming storm ! 

Thy cherished hope, and love, and pride, 

Like reeds are cloven down ; 
While doubt and dark despair, allied, 

In clouds of horror frown. 



Still I feel a painful wonder 
Tlaat a spirit, formed as thine, 

Had not trod its trials under. 
With a potency di\ane. 
3* 



58 LIGHT IN DARKNESS, 

He, thy loved one, early sinking 
In the frost of wint'ry skies, 

That bright boy, so early drinking 
Of the wines of Paradise, — 

Now a radiant angel, roving 
In a sphere of perfect bUss, — 

Would'st thou he were longer pro\TLng 
The heart- wasting cares of this ? 

No, thou readest not so dimly 
Of the Future, of the Now ; 

With new trust, and love, supremely 
Feel'st, upon thy spirit brow, 

The serene inspiring glances, 
Beaming from his heavenly eye ; 

Every feeling it entrances 
To a sweet intensity. 

With a pure, exalted mission, 
PalUd suffering comes to thee ; 

Let it speak the fuU expression 
Of its destined ministry. 



LIGHT IN DAEKNESS. 59 



Oh, behold ! he stands before us, 
Dazzlmg to our mental sight, 

As his presence kindles o'er us 
Flashes of bewildei'ing light ; 

Of a sunshine, radiating 

All my inmost spirit through ; 

Of a love-fire, consecrating 

All, with baptism pure, and true. 

Oh ! I bless thee noble spirit, 
For the vision thou hast given ; 

That, through thee, we now inherit 
Still anothei: hold on heaven. 



In my soul comes such a longing 
To untwine this fleshly coil, 

So to jom the si^irits, thronging 
On the Paradisean soil ! — 



Yet it is not well to cherish 

Such intensity of fire ; 
So, with the sweet vision, perish 

All this over- wrought desire ! 



60 LIGHT IN DARKNESS. 

Therefore, oh, afflicted mother, 
Thou hast wisely, bravely done, 

Sorrow in thy soul to smother, 
For this beatific son. 

All the past, with peace, surrender ; 

Crown the present with new joy ; 
And thy latest pang shall render. 

To thy arms, thy darling Boy ! 



AN INFANT REMINISCENCE. 



Oh, mother in heaven ! thy daughter bends low ; 
I come, dearest mother, as once, long ago, 
In a sweet baby-dream, I clung to thy breast, 
And found there, dear mother, the holiest of rest. 

'T was a cold night of winter, the wild winds were free; 
With terror I turned to my father, but he. 
Engaged with his book, heeded not how the blood, 
Forsakmg my cheek, and broAV, motionless stood 

At the heart's trembling jjortals, in silence profound, 
How my pale lips kept moving, but uttered no sound ; 
I cUmbed to his knee, put my cheek to his cheek, 
Pressed my Ups to his lips, but, alas ! could not speak ! 

" Off, child ! and be quiet," impatient he cried ; 

I turned to my mother, and knelt by her side, 

At her low rocking-chair, where, asleep on her breast, 

A sweet baby-sister all fondly was pressed. 



62 AN INFANT REMINISCENCE. 

My arts were unheeded, or coldly put by, 

To catch for one moment the glance of her eye ; 

Then I sought my brave brother, his brow wore a 

frown, — 
My coming had tumbled his play-houses down. 

Then sorrowful, into my cradle I crept, 
Hid my face in the pillow, and sobbed till I slept. 
In my sleep, dearest mother ! I saw thy calm face : 
The same smile was on it that ever I trace 

On those love-lighted featm'es, for often, since then, 
When my life has been burdened with soxtow and pain, 
Thus bent thou above me ; thus, over my soul. 
Shed the hght of thy love, with a boundless control. 

Ever hold me, dear angel ! as closely as now, 
Let me feel, as distinctly, thy hand on my brow ; 
Oh, give me to know that in waking, or sleeping, 
My spirit is still in thy motherly keeping. 

When my garments of flesh shall be folded away, 
May I live in thy presence forever, and aye, 
Forever and aye, on thy bosom to rest. 
In mansions of glory, at home with the blest. 



HEAVENLY PEACE. 



Oh light, intensely golden, 

Yet mellow in its hue, 
How softly it is molten 

In the empyrean blue ! 

Oh, spirits bright, I hail ye ! 

Companions of my way, 
No danger can assail me, 

Where'er my footsteps stray. 

Oh, angels ! most entrancing 
Are your supernal charms, 

As, lovingly advancing. 
Ye wave your snowy arms. 

Oh, white wings, gently smoothing 
My lips, and cheek, and brow, 

Serenely ye are soothing 
My wildest fancies now ! 



64 HEAVENLY PEACE. 

Oh, mother, queen of Heaven, 
Thy smiles upon me rest ; 

Once more to me is given 
To slumber on thy breast. 

Oh, slumber most alluring, 
AU heavenly and divine ; 

Oh, peace for aye enduring, 
Joy ! joy ! that it is mine. 



TO SARAH HELEN WHITMAN-. 



Pardon me, lady ! O sweet sister mine, 
For sooth, I may not, if I would, confine 
Within my heart, affection's earnest gush, 
Such floods of feeling through my bemg rush. 

I love thee, lady ! and have loved thee long ; 
And every utterance of thy simplest song 
Finds, in my soul, an echo warm and true, 
And clearly opens, to my mental vieAv, 
Thy spirit's quiet and exalted home. 
Whither good angels love so well to come, 
And often, lady, from the realms of thought, 
A votive ofiering I to thee have brought, 
But when, all trembling, I approached the shrine 
Where burned a fire so lofty and divine, 
I feared my gift too simple was to place 
Beside the first-fruits which that altar grace, 
And I have turned, reluctantly, away. 
With loitering steps, unwilling to obey. 



66 TO SARAH HELEN AV HITMAN. 

But now I view thee as a sister soul, 
And journey with thee to the self-same goal, 
I feel new life through all my pulses start, 
While thus I read the pages of thy heart, 
Karely to mortals, 'in this nether sphere. 
Come revelations so exceeding clear. 
Thy spirit's features I as plainly trace 
As, in a mu-ror, my reflected face. 
Would that my soul might be unvailed thus, 
That my flesh garments were as luminous ! 

One moment more, dear lady, I mtrude ; 
Oh, deem me not presmuptuous, vain, or rude ; 
Unskilled, unlettered, is this heart of mine, 
Simple and childish, when compared with thme ; 
Yet see ! this harp, which is at my command, 
Was strimg and given me iby an angel's hand, 
Who taught me all the beatific skill. 
To Avake its numbers whensoe'er I will ; 
And listen, lady ! as, that skill to prove, 
Across the silken strings my fingers move. 

Oh, hearest thou the rapturous tones that flow 
From its ethereal chords ! while on heaven's brow 
The angels listen, or, with waving wing. 
Send back, responsive, the sweet songs they sing! 



TO SARAH HELEN WHITMAN. 67 

Their choral theme, transcendeutly sublime, 
Is the ascending, glorious march of time. 
Whose mingling numbers rise, and fall, and swell, 
Like the high pealings of a minster bell. 
Would we more perfect, and harmonious grow. 
Thought, word, and action, thus should interflow. 
Keeping full concord, and symphonious time. 
With heaven, and earth, and ocean's mystic chime. 



UNCHANGED. 



They who profess the floral tongues to know, 

Say that each blossom hath one, all its own ; 
That from the Ups of this, forever flow 

The prophecies of change ; that in its tone 
There lurks a sadness, such as loved ones feel 

"When those who loved them have become estranged. 
But these fair leaves no waning faith conceal. 

They bear the language of a heart unchanged 
To thee, Queen Helen ! from my golden bowers ; 

Full of the memories of the treasured past, 
These crimson leaflets of bignonia flowers 

Trembling with rapture, at thy feet I cast. 
Thou canst discern the deeper sense, that lies 
Wreathed in their heart, unseen of unanointed eyes. 



IRENE. 



Beautiful, tender, 

And gentle Irene ! 
Oh, wilt thou surrender, 

With spirit serene, 
A life, bright and vernal, 

In freshness of youth. 
For riches eternal, 

Of goodness and truth? 
Wilt thou bow thy sweet head 

At the summoning voice 
Of Him who hath said, 

" Come to me and rejoice ! 
When sorrows attend thee, 

In sickness, or woe. 
For I will befriend thee, 

And lead thee to know 



70 I K E N E . 

That Peace which, descending, 
Flows on like a rivei", 

So blending, unending, 
Sweet harmonies, ever." 

Though whirlwinds are raging. 

And rude tempests sweep. 
And the elements waging 

"Wild war on the deep, 
His Infinite Will 

All their fury can stay, 
His low " Peace be still !" 

They forever obey. 

Then, cahn with assurance, 

Repose on His breast ; 
Be strong in endurance ; 

He givctli thee rest. 
His angels He sendeth 

On thee to attend ; 
Above thee He bendeth, 

A fathei-, and friend. 
In each trial hour, 

As a radiant zone. 
His right arm of power 

Around thee is thrown. 



71 



A Saviour, now wearing 

His Infinite charms, 
As a lambkin, is bearing 

Thy soul in His arms ; 
Or, borne on His bosom. 

To regions above. 
Thou shalt be as a blossom 

Of goodness and love, 
In His garden of beauty 

Forever to bloom, 
In the green strength of duty, 

And love's own perfume. 

We will not forget thee 

Our darling Irene 
But, star-jeweled, set thee 

As hght of each scene ; 
In our hearts, a dear treasure, 

Thine image shall live. 
Where a holier pleasure 

No future can give ; 
Thy love will bloom sweetly. 

Thy memory be green. 
Till, deathless, we meet thee, 

Our darling Ikene ! 



THE LIFTED VAIL. 



Oh, Lady ! lift tliy mournful eyes ; 

Why should despair so blind their sight? 
See ! yonder, in the red'ning skies, 

Wrestles the all-controlling light. 
Angels, to minister relief. 

Are bending from the calm above ; 
Oh, fleetly, may this chilling grief 

Yield to the influence of their love. 

Dear Lady, very well I know 

Thy inner life is clouded o'er 
With a benumbing, deadening woe, 

A clinging mist on sea and shore ; 
Though from thy suffering heart will fall 

The mellow notes of hope, and cheer, 
And thy pale hand would lift the pall 

That darkens o'er the stricken, here. 



THELIFTEDVAIL. 73 

A heavenly prophecy I bear, 

Of Peace, upon my aj^irit lips. 
Thou canst discern the ocean where 

Its polished wings, that halcyon dips. 
It comes to teach that strength divine 

Shall trimnph o'er this martyrdom, 
And that high victory shall be thme, 

Which but to strugglmg souls can come. 

Already hath the darkness flung 

Apart her mantle, torn and gray, 
And, though the dawn hath feebly sprung, 

'T will culminate to perfect day. 
Be patient then, for, bravely borne. 

Shall Triumph on thy banners rest, 
And the dark demon hence be torn. 

That clings, a nightmare, to thy breast. 

Divinest joys my spirit fill 

While thus I pierce the darkness through, 
And see thy future clear, and still, 

And beautiful, as the deep sky's blue. 
As thy dissolving gloom I scan, 

With a most earnest spirit glance. 
The wings of warder angels fin 

My cheek, and deeper grows the trance. 
4 



74 THE LI FTKD V AIL, 

A spirit form is near us now, 

Of manly presence, proud and bold, 
The language of his ample broAV 

Is fuU of histories untold. 
He draws thee to his heart of hearts, 

His arms around thee gently twine, 
And the delicious strain imparts 

To thee, a prescience Divine. 

No longer weak, thou standest up. 

With heart redeemed from loss, and doubt : 
Smiling, thou drink'st the mingled cup 

The angel of thy life pours out. 
Strength, born of weakness, shall be thine, 

Hope, from the anguish of despair, 
The faith, and poAver, of love divine, 

Shall all the erring past repair. 




CROSS AND CROWN. 



Deep within thy inmost spirit, 

"Where the herds of rough, and rude, 

Can not drink, nor browse anear it, — 
Far from all that would uitrude. 

Lies a waveless, sunny, lakelet, 

So serenely crystalline, 
Earthly voices can not wake it 

From its silences divine. 

Birds of briglitest hues are winging 
O'er its bosom hushed, and still, 

WhUe the raptures of their singing 
Its profoundest waters thrill. 

Earnest hopes, and sportive wishes. 
Round in circling eddies turn ; 

Playful fancies, Uke bright fishes. 
Glitter in the Naiad's urn. 



T6 CROSS AND C KOWN. 

When discordant tones, or voices 
From the outward, to thee come, 

Undisturbed, thy soul rejoices 
In this quiet spirit-home. 



God is ever very tender 
Of a soul incased like thine, 

In a frame so frail and slender ; 
And our anj^^el-friends incline. 



Evermore, to shield, and cherish. 
One whose life must pine, and wait,- 

Leaving no sweet hope to perish 
Under a relentless fate. 



Suffering is a purifier. 

If Ave will not shrink, and make 
More intense the scathing fire 

By A-ain strugglings at the stake. 

Wliat if, for life's little hour, 

Fleshly chains are round us thrown ? 
See we not, it is the power 

By which martyrs Avin their croA\Ti ? 



C R O S S A N D U 11 O AV N . 77 

Ruder souls Avould bear, unfeeling, 
Shocks that stun thy every sense , 

Standing firm, Avhile thou wert reeling 
With an agony intense. 

Still in musing, as I ponder 

O'er life's deeply hidden things, 
Evermore there comes the wonder, 

Whence are its exhaustless springs? 

Whence the latent strength, upspringing 

In such gentle, timid souls ? 
A bright halo o'er them flinging. 

Which, before our eyes, unrolls 

The sublime, and startling, histories 

Of their unseen, inner life, 
Deep revealings, deeper mysteries, 

With untold experience rife ? 

And One answers, in a murmur 

Of subdued delight, and saith, 
Clay may fail, but hearts grow finner, 

By their inbred Love and Faith ; 
Clay may die, but souls grow firmer. 

Soaring, victors over death ! 



HUMAN LOVE. 



Father iu Heaven ! permit me, as I may, 

To bring an offering, simple though it be, 
Upon the shrme of hmnan love to lay, 

Whereby my soul exalts itself to Thee. 
Kow bending low, I ask, imploringly. 

That I this silent power may never lose ; 
Then confident in faith, adoringly 

I gladden in the strength of its repose, — 
The power that makes us more akin to Thee, 

The highest, sweetest power to spirits born. 
To love, love only, even should there be 

For us, but wrong, injustice, hate and scorn. 
Father, I pray Thee, may we ever prove 
This Omnipresence of Omnipotent Love. 



THE DARK RIVER. 



Once, over my sleeping, 
This vision came sweeping : 
I wantlerecl alone by a deep river's side ; 
Their white arms entwining, 
The ISTaiads, reclining 
On the breast of the waters, did glide. 

Above them, low bending, 
The wood-nymphs were blending 
Their long shining tresses, that flowingly swept 
The wavelets' soft bosom, 
Where leaflet and blossom 
"Were rocked to and fro, as they slept. 

And here, as I strayed 
With courage dismayed 
By the sorrows that over me came in a throng, 
A N"ymph, -with a face 
FuU of sweetness and grace, 
Sat singing an exquisite song. 



80 THE DARK RIVER. 

And as I drew near, 
Stooping forward to hear 
The words of her low and melodious singing, 
She raised her soft eyes, 
Full of i^leasant surprise, 
To mine, and suddenly flinging 

Her arms, w^hite as snow. 
Around me, the flow 
Of her jubilant music rose higher, and higher, 
Till rapture my brain 
Thrilled with consummate pain, 
And kindled each sense as with fire ! 

Then, tightening her hold, 
Adown through the cold 
Shining darkness of waters we sank, O ! I shiver 
And shudder, even now. 
And damp is ray brow. 
As I think of that dark flowing river f 

For we sank ^yiih the speed 
Of the rushing storm-steed, 
Through the waters around us that spun with a hiss; 
And the cold, as a dart. 
Sent a pang to my heart, 
Yet thrilled with a transport of bliss. 



THE DARK EI VEE. 81 

Above and below, 
The stars, to and fro, 
As sentinels moved round the slumbering stream ; 
But their soft, wavy light. 
On the ripples fell bright, 
In spirals of silvery gleam. 

"With merriest glances, 
And gracefolest dances, 
Fair forms, all aromid us, wheeled on wuth the tide. 
" Oh give me a lyre. 
Sweet souls! and inspire 
Such joy in my bosom," I cried. 

Suddenly I seemed uplifted. 

And T\dth them I slowly drifted, 
Amid melodies ecstatic ; 

And the lyre my touch obeying, 

I, with them, was sweetly playing 
Symphonies and airs erratic. 

And my lips, too, were unsealed, 

And to me there were revealed 
Canticles of Love Di\'ine ; 

And I chanted one sweet strain 

O'er and o'er, and o'er again. 
Ever, thus, to make it mine. 
4* 



82 T H E D A E K li 1 V E E . 

But their songs I might not bring 
Through the life-tide's weltering, 

Though the vision's light will stay, 
And the memory of the suiging 
Will my soul revisit, bringing 

Bright and beauteous thoughts, alway. 

O, the rapture of my waking 

From that slumber ! day was breaking. 

And the heavens were all aglow ; 
Light upon the eastern skies 
Flashed, as heavenly prophecies. 

And a voice distinct, though low, 

"Whispered to my spirit-ear, 
" Be of good and sunny cheer; 

Let thy cares and sorrows cease, 
Though life's waters, deep and cold, 
Darkly over thee have rolled. 
Brief is their ungentle power, 
And within thy soul, this hour, 

Angels smg of love and peace. 



THE BRIGHT RIVER. 



What discordances chaotic 

Still dispute with vis the way ; 
How the senses rnle, despotic, 

Bartering the soul's life away ; 
While all false and baseless Fay-dreams 

Creep like truths into the heart, 
Banishing the fairest day-beams 

That would purer light impart. 

Thus the homes which we inherit, — 

Beautiful beyond compare, — 
Harbor, each, a crouching spirit, 

All too weak to will, or dare ! 
And our eyes we 're ever closing 

To the light, so freely given, 
'Mid inglorious joys reposing, 

All unmindful of our Heaven, 



84 THEBRIGIITRIVER. 

And the angels hovering o'er us, 
Beckoning us, so kindly, on — 

Blessed siDirits, who, before us. 
To the blissful realms have gone. 

Oh, my sisters ! oh, my brothers ! 

Walking blindfold in the dark. 
Know ye not how falsehood smothers, 

In your souls, each vital sjoark ? 
Will ye not arouse you, breaking 

From the bondage of the clay ? 
Long ago the morn was Avaking 

To a more transcendent day. 

On the walls of heaven are walking 

Angels of immortal birth. 
Bending down the azure, talking, 

Face to face, with souls on earth. 
They have waited long, to bless us. 

Full of tenderness and care, 
Scattering in our paths all precious 

Flowers of joy, that blossom where 
Love's celestial founts are springing, 

Nourished by ambrosial showers. 
And all bright winged birds are singing 

In the incense-freighted bowers. 



THE BRIGHT RIVE K. 85 

Ay, and they would greet us, telling 

Of the holier things they see, 
In the glory-lighted dwelling 

Of Incarnate Deity ! 

Lo, a bridge of light is skying 

Death's transparent river-flow ! 
And the pebbles, under-lying, 

Glitter in the deeps below. 
Never more shall it grow turbid 

From the storms of grief and care ; 
Unbelief no more distm-b it, 

Nor the blackness of despair. 

Even the bubbling of its foam is 

With a mystic charm endued, 
And a bow of sweetest promise 

Hangs above it, seven-hued ; 
And the meaning of its flowing 

Waxes ever more divine. 
And the sands, beneath it glowing, 

Are of pearl, and crystalline. 

Sweetly flowing, tranquil river ! 

Gliding, noiseless, on thy way, 
Never more from thee, forever, 

Shall we shrink, in fear, away. 



THE BRIGHT RIVER. 

Oh, sweet river ! as we 're gliding 

So serenely down thy stream, 
Seems it as in one abiding, 

All-entrancing, glory-dream ! 
Death, thou angel of pure brightness, 

Death, thou vision of delight, 
Though our souls were ne'er so sightless, 

Thou wilt turn to day their night. 

As a young babe, sweetly sleeping 

In the mother's fond embrace. 
We consign unto thy keeping 

All the loved of time and place, 
There is rapture in but thinkuig 

Of thy river of life subhme. 
Where we '11 stoop with angels, di'inking 

In the blissful after-time. 

Thus, oh, thus then, slowly diifting, 

Drifting, drifting, slowly on. 
Where the glorious arch is lifting. 

Through which our beloved have gone,- 
Underneath it floating slowly. 

Slowly floating, floating slow. 
Through resplendent scenes of glory, 

Where melodious rivers flow, — 



IGHT KIVER. 87 



Now with swifter, swifter motion, 

Swaying vnth the swaying tide, — 
Omvard, to the shoreless ocean 

Of eternity, we ghde ! 
Ocean, ruffled but by rimphngs 

Of sweet airs from odox'ous Isles, 
And the drowsy, dallying dunplings 

Of the -winged zephyr's smUes. 

Oh, so bUssful are the gleamings, 

Gleamings of the bliss to be, 
So delicious the dear dreamings, 

Dreamings of Eternity, 
That the rapturous reveaUngs 

Antedate their heaven in me. 
And, in hallo-^ong all my feelings, 

Flood them with sweet ecstasy. 



THE VIOLET. 



A VIOLET, buried in deep woods, am I, 
Quietly nestled in my solitude, 
Loving the voices of the true and good ; 

With petals open to the kindly sky, 

I drink the glimpsing Ught, and twinkling dew, 
Shed from the Father's ever-bounteous hand, 
Who looks upon me with a smile, so bland 

It fills my vailed heart with odors new. 

Not for the world's applauses would I grow 
In any spot less hallowed by His love. 

Though gaudier grandeurs rotmd my home might glow, 
And flowers, more beauteous, proudly nod above ; 

No ! the green darkness of my dell is dear 

For the Great Love that clings so warmly round me here. 



LATENT JOY. 



In the solemn depths of this soul of thine 
Bright jewels of Fancy serenely shine, 
With gems of Thought, of a hue divine. 

As I wander on 'mid its sunny bowers, 
I find the brightest, and sweetest flowers, 
Whose beauty Avould gladden life's saddest hours. 

But, alas ! a canker will soonest come 

To the rarest plant, and the fairest bloom ; 

Then cherish, ere perish, the fleet perfume 

That over thy spirit waves, and floats. 

With the measured music of singing thoughts, 

And the peahng of feeling's loftiest notes. 



90 LATENTJOY. 

Oh, suffer it not that gloomy thought 

Should sully the joy, or cast a blot 

On the high, clear sky of thy changing lot. 

The hallowed hopes that over thee brood, 
And the perfumed breath of thy womanhood, 
As the blessed deeds of the true, and good, 

Are shedding forever, aromid thy way, 
An odor of sweetness, and love, that aye 
Grows deeper, and sweeter, all the day I 

I feel in a sacred, a charmed spot, 

And into its depths I would venture not, 

Save with spirit redeemed from stain and blot. 

A power of re- vision is over me cast ; 

I tread with thee through a darkened past, 

Where gleams and glooms give a strange contrast. 

Is the sense of thy guardian's symbol clear? 
Was thy childhood darkened with doubt and fear. 
And the blistering fogs of untimely care ? 

Was thy little bosom rudely tossed 

By pangs relentless, and fond hopes crossed, 

Till thy childish faith was almost lost ? 



LATENT JOY. 91 

Still canst thou remember sweet glimpses of blue, 
When the somber clouds let the sunlight through, 
With shimmer, and glimmer, to gladden thy view ! 

And there were moments, when gladness came 

Into thy heart, as a leaping flame. 

And joy, bright joy ! was no longer a name. 

Ay, there were times when a purpose high 
Shone on thy cheek and lip, burned in thme eye, 
And thy proud heart beat triumphantly ! 

I tremble, abashed, and am half afraid. 

The dfedalous paths of thy heart to thread, — 

Tlie secret heart of a fair, young maid ! 

And dowTi, over many a sacred scene, 
Over many a closed, and hallowed spot, 

Thy guardian angel lets fall a screen. 

And, with gentle tone, says, " Enter it not !" 

But she silently points to a fearful weight 
That over thy heart's young hope was hung, 

And tells how the cruel hand of Fate, 

From that heart, the bitterest drops hath wrung. 



2 LATENTJOY. 

She holds a wreath of thy past to me; 

Oh ! say, is the garland's symbol true ? 
Mid the brightest buds, and blossoms free, 

Are cypress leaves, and the twigs of yew ! 

But sorrow itself hath a mission high ; 

And Hope's defeats are not all in vam ; 
Some joy is latent in every sigh. 

Some pleasure responds to the keenest pain. 

The past shall seiwe, as a winding stair, 
To action still more noble, and true ; 

And the galling chains of an old despair 
Hold the golden seal of a promise new I 



THE OAK. 



TiiSTT little Acorn ! underneath the ground, 
Working out a problem, solemnly profound ! 

Shoot ! of simplest beauty, frail as thou art fair, 
Meekly giving utterance to the acorn's prayer ; 

Lightly sprmging Sapling, promising so much. 
Ever swajong, gracefully, to the zephyr's touch ; 

Tree! of fair proportions, slender, lithe, and strong, 
Giving back the chorus of the wild wind's song ; 

Pride of all the forest, tree acknowledged king, 
When the storms are sorest, when the tempest's bring. 

From the dreary northland, all their fearful force, 
And thy fellows tremble from their furious course ; 



94 T H K O A K . 

Bald to rebel winter, garlanded in spring, 
Oak ! in all thy changes, nurturexl to be king ; 

Regally majestic, thou dost wear thy croTvni, 
Laughing loud, and scornfully, at the Storm-god's 
frown. 



THE CONSECRATION. 



Lo, at miduight, to my slumbers 

Came a dream of bliss, to me ; 
And in soft, liarmonious numbers, 

Will I whisper it to thee. 

I a vigil had been keeping. 

Thinking she would surely come ; 

When I lost myself in sleeping, 

And my thoughts were gathered home. 

Soon I saw, above me bending, 

A fair form of radiant light, 
Every beauteous charm Avas lending 

In her features heavenly bright. 

Thus she spake : " O, would'st thou know me ' 

Seek thou not the fearful spell 
That o'ercast my life's sad story, 

Ifthoulovest 'L. E. L.' 



96 THE CONSECRATION 

" But, O let thy spirit, rather, 
Seek companionship with mine, 

Where no storms can ever gather, 
In the light of Love Divine ! 



" For, believe me, gentle maiden. 
None that story ever knew ; 

Deep withm my heart, grief-laden, 
It was hid from mortal view. 



*' And if thus my soul is speaking 
Of the griefs that once were mine, 

It is but to curb the seeking 
Of that eaiTiest heart of thine. 

" For no mortal pen hath written. 

Yet, the inmost history 
Of one loving heart. How fitting 

Then, my soul should counsel thee. 

*' But enough. I come to take thee 
Where diaphanous rivers flow. 

There my spirit friends await me 
Come, arise ! 



THE CONSECRATION. 97 

Then lier strength must have been married 

To some other than her own ; 
As an mfant was I caiTied 

In her arms' encu-cling zone ; 
Till before a gate we tarried, 

TThich, anon, was open thrown. 

Forth, from the open gate, there came 
Two figures, clad in robes of flame ; 
To her spake one, whose godlike tone 
Assured me it was "VYashhigton ; 
The other smiled on me, and then 
I recognized the soul of Penn. 

To me he slid, " AYhy this surprise ? 
Why tears Avithin thy spirit's eyes ? 

And wherefore tremble thus ? 
Spirit, we come thy strength to prove, 
And bless thee for thy earnest love, 

And truth so luminous. 

" Be strong in patience, to endure, 
Thou hast a mission high, and pure ; 

Be faithful to fulfill, 
Fqt, oft as dewy eve, will fall 
That warning voice, so still and small, 

That tells the Father's will. 



THE CONSECRATION. 

" And know, that tlirough the whirl of care, 
The feeblest whisper of thy prayer 

Will reach the ear of heaven ; 
And let it cheer thee in thy task, 
For what thy spirit thus shall ask, 

To thee it shall be given, 

" Commissioned Teacher ! be it thine 
To show the inward power divine 

That Lights the willing heart ; 
Sweet Inspiration's guiding ray. 
Which clearly points the better way, 

Seek purely to impart. 

"A Prophet of that Faith, I see 
Forecast, its perfect victory ; 

And thou, in gentleness. 
In purity of love, I ween, 
Unwavering trust, and hope serene, 

May be its Prophetess !" 

My head was resting on his knee, 
His hand caressing, fatherly, 

My flowing hair smoothed down ; 
When, singling out a random tress, 
He kissed it with deep tenderness, 

And said in uentle tone : 



THE CONSECRATION. 

" I will not cut the tress away, 
But bid the little mentor stay — 

Memorial of Pemi, 
Whose tongue shall bless thy going forth 
To teach God's glory upon earth, 

Peace, and good will to men !" 

Then Washington and L. E. L. 
Came to us ; filled with awe, I fell. 

In trembling at his feet ; 
" Maiden arise, arise !" said he, 
" Behold a brother soul, in me. 

Coming thine OAvn to greet." 

To raise me, gently stooping down, 
He said, with deprecative tone, 

" Banish this foolish fear ; 
The tranquil and harmonious flow 
Of Love's pure stream we, only, know, 

Who dwell within this sphere." 

He laid his hand uj^on my brow, 
A cliilling shudder ran me through ; 

And, down my inmost soul, 
A voiceful silence seemed to creep ; 
My trance became more fixed and deep. 

Beneath his strong control. 



100 THE CONSECRATION. 

"Behold !" he said ; I looked, and lo ! 
Whole armies, marching to and fro. 

Before my startled eyes ; 
I heard the terrifying crash, 
The cannon's roar, the stunning clash, 

That rent the sliuddermg skies ! 

I saw the desolating crush. 

The hopeless, the despairing rush 

Of soul's, by terror racked ; 
The Avant, and woe, and cankering care. 
Ruin and death, that every where. 

By teai'S, and blood, wore tracked ! 

This horror passed ; and lo, I stood 
Within a dark and gloomy wood. 

"Behold!" my Leader saith. 
I looked, but sickened, turned away ; 
For there a murdered traveler lay, 

Wrestling alone with death ! 

()n\vard we journeyed, coming where 
Loud shouts, and laughter, filled the air, 

And thoughtless thousands flocked ; 
A gallows lifted, to the sky, 
(rod's image in humanity, 

That winds, irreverent, rocked ! 



THE C O N S E C K A T I O N . 101 

Oh, inurder's self had not the power, — 
Nor all the evil battles shower 

Along their blood-stained sod, — 
To match this agonizing sight, 
Done in the name of Law and Right, 

Done in the name of God ! 

Still on we went, and reached, at length, 
A city, glorious in strength, 

The pride of all the earth ; 
But even a fiend would blush to name 
The wrong, and woe, the crime, and shame. 

That in its heart had birth ! 

There man, his brother man betrayed, 
Hatred, distrust, and envy, made 

Withm its walls, their nest ; 
Lust, avarice, pride, and dark deceit, 
Seemed w^tli each other to compete. 

In every human breast. 

Rehgion ! over me there falls 

A dark'ning shadow, like a pall's, 

As of her shame I speak ! 
From all her churches rang no Law, 
The weak to cheer, the bad to awe, 

She Avas so shorn and weak ! 



102 THK CONSECRATION, 

Thither the purse-proud worshiper, 
And his sleek priest with silken stir, 

Came, every Sabbath day, 
Together, in each stately hall, 
On God, in hollow words, to call, 

And publicly to pray, 

No entrance for the humble poor ! 
None but the rich find open door ; 

Jesus himself might wait ! 
Wan memory shudders to rcA^eal 
The records which their hearts conceal, 

Of Pomp's delusive state. 

With grief I turned to Washington, 
Whose face was radiant as a sun ; 

"And is there then, no cure? 
Nothing but vsdckedness ?" I cried, 
" Whereby the Good is crucified ; 

And must it thus endure ?" 

" Yes ! till, with tongues of Hving flame, 
God's ministers this truth proclaim, — 

' Love is the life of good, 
The only medicine we can give 
Is, teaching men the art to live 

In human brotherhood.' 



THE CONSECRATION. 103 

" Then maiden, on thy mission go ! 
God on thy soul will strength bestow, 

This principle to teach ; 
Till every soul, in every other. 
Shall recognize a spirit brother, 

This living gospel preach," 

He ceased; and as rich music, then, 
Fell on my ear the voice of Penn ; 

" Yea, bid all men rejoice ; 
For lo, the heavens are bendmg now. 
And they who listen, kneelmg low. 

May hear Jehovah's voice. 

"And revelations deep, and clear, 
Will come to every willmg ear. 

With soul-inspiring good ; 
While spirits of the glorified 
Shall walk, each loving soul beside, 

In closest brotherhood. 

"Rejoice! thou hast a Avinning speech. 
Men's wiser, better thoughts, to reach ; 

Then, evermore, proclaim 
This gospel to the erring earth. 
Of brotherhood, and spiiit-birth, 

In God's most holy name." 



104 THE CONSECRATION'. 

In the dissolving of the trance 
I saw a graceful spirit-dance, 

A brilliant festive scene ; 
Glad spirits glided to and fro, 
To music's undulating flow ; 

And in each pause, between, 

A loftier symphony I heard ; 
And, as I tried to catch some word 

Of the sweet interlude. 
These heavenly echoes sprang to birth, 
" Glory to God ! and peace on earth ! 

And Human Brotherhood !" 



'I 



AVE MARIA. 



Oh thou, my spirit friend, 
Sweet mother ! as I bend 

Heart and knee, 
Teach what my tongue shall say, 
That I aright may pray 

Unto thee. 

I would become more pure, 
More willing to endure 

What may be ; 
Knowing that, at my side 
Whatever may betide — 

Guarding me, 

Thy angel walks in hght. 
As walked thy Son by night 

On the sea ! 
And though my hfe-boat frail, 
Rude tempest may assail, 

Wrathfully, 
5* 



106 AVE MARIA. 

And waves tumultuous rise, 
Threatening the pallid skies, 

In mad glee ! 
While fearful lightnings hiss 
Down wave, and precipice, 

Scornfully ! 

Yet will I know no fear ; 
Oh, holy mother dear. 

Maid-mother free ! 
Thy sweet, assuring smile 
Rests over me, the while, 

Earnestly. 

Sweet mother, mine, I pray, 
Take not that hght away ; 

May it be 
Within my inmost soul, 
And all my thoughts control, 

Perfectly. 

So holy is its power. 
My soul can but adore 

Thine, and Thee ! 
The wisdom, love, and grace, 
Wlaich, from thy heavenly face, 

Beam on me ! 



TO LOTTIE. 



Lottie ! though the angels told me 
Of the strength withm thy heart, 

Still, as closely I mfold thee, 
Comes to mme a bitter smart. 



I would soothe those throbbmg temples, 

Cool the fever of thy brow; 
Ah, the sunUght faintly trembles 

Through thy saddened spirit, now ! 

Like a stately city, standing 

By old Ocean's open door. 
All its ceaseless strength commandmg, 

All its treasures, evermore ; 



108 TO LOTTIE. 

So thy spirit's calm reposing, 
Seemeth, to my spirit eyes, 

As some crystal sea, inclosing 
All the SAveets of Paradise; 

Centered by a gleaming city, 

With its clustering domes and spires ; 

And ray spirit swells with pity 
At the sacrificial fires, 

Burning on its temple altars, 
Gleaming on its golden shrine ; 

But the great sun never falters 
In its path of hyaline. 

Be thou faithful, in thy bosom 

It shall kindle purer fires. 
Making, in its depths, to blossom 

Higher, holier desires. 

Bird-like melodies, the sweetest, 
In its dewy-dawn will start, 

Pouring victory's completest 
Anthem, from thy inmost heart. 



TO LOTTIE. 109 

God himself gives inspiration 

To these choiring thoughts of thine ; 

Guard, then, every emanation 
From this origin divine. 

Why thus saddened, beyond measure, 

In these clouds about thy way 
Oh, look up ! and learn to treasure 

Stars that turn even night to day. 

Wheresoe'er thoii goest pouring 

Golden Hope, and beamy faith, 
Till thy heart and soul are soaring, 

Victors, over fate and death. 



THE PROMISE. 



Lady ! thy arms of love are open mde, 
And, more than glad, to their embrace I glide ; 
For, once within their ample circle prest, 
There comes a sweet security of rest. 

I would my yearning heart could find a tone 
Echoing responsive language to thy own, 
Tliough in its far recesses I discern 
The fires of love and gratitude that bum 
On Friendship's altar, and behold, in thine, 
The same sweet flame burn, lambent and divine, 
Still, when expression's nobler flight I seek, 
I find my tongue reluctant, slow, and weak ; 
My humble lyre no lofty song will bring, 
But tones of sweetness vibrate on each string. 



THE PROMISE. 11 

Restless ambition ever toils to bind 

Her glittering chains upon the active mind, 

But thou, exalted to some noble aim, 

A brighter crown, a purer wi-eath may claun ; 

Fronting so bravely all the iUs of life, 

And walking feai-less through its wrongs and strife. 

If thus, forever, thou canst hold in view, 

The starry heights of a pure life, and true, 

Thy future's pathway shall be crowned with bliss. 

That far outweighs the martyrdoms of this ; 

No clouds shall darken, with malignant frown, 

But fadeless laurels thy white temples crown ; 

Seraphs of beauty golden censors swing, 

Love's holiest incense over thee to fling, 

And, borne aloft on music's waves, shall soar 

Thy victor-soul, right on, for evermore ! 



EHYTHMIC CONTRASTS 



As, beneath the crystal waters, 
Diamonds ghtter, very clear. 

So thy mental sons, and daughters, 
Through their element ajjpear, 

In thy soul's serenest chambers. 

Reason's children make their home, 
And Thought's sunlight, as it clambers 

To its blue, meridian dome. 
Gilds, with loveliness transcendent, 

All thy high imaginings ; 
And the angel, thy attendant. 

Shakes ambrosia from her wings. 

Thy soul's temple I have entered, 

And I Unger at the shrine, 
"Where, in oriel-light, are centered 

The deep springs of the Divine. 



RHYTHMIC CONTRASTS. 113 

Here are contrasts so united 

In all holiest marriages, 
Strength to Gentleness is plighted, 

Pride to sweet Humilities. 

O'er thy sky come sudden changes, — 

Turns of Fate's Kaleidoscope ; 
To my spirit, as it ranges 

Over thine, there seems to ope 
Scenes of glory, so entrancing, 

That I tremble as I view. 
Lingering now, and now advancing, 

Through each thought-paved avenue. 

As a dove might, young and tender, 

Find security, and rest, 
For its pinions thin, and slender, 

In the fearless Eagle's nest, — 

As beneath an oak wide-spreading, 

Nestles the sweet Eglantine, 
As a rivulet, slow threading 

Its dark way, where rocks incline, 
Suddenly in light emerges. 

Growing deeper, and more clear, 
Till it mingles with the surges 

TumbUng on the -windy mere ; 



114 RHYTHMIC CONTRASTS. 

So all timid spirits, wrestling 
With the fearful storms of life, 

To thy eagle soul fly, nestling 
From the tumult, and the strife ; 

So thy thought from doubt emerges, 
Growing deeper, and more clear, 

Till it mingles -with the surges 
Of the Everlasting mere ! 



THE DIFFERENCE. 



Men speak of grief as if tliey were acquaint 

Tlierewith, or it were possible for them, 
Though chastened by afflictions, e'er to paint, 

Or to conceive the woes, that as a flame. 
Consume the heart of woman. They do not 

Oifer their heart's whole wealth upon Love's shrine ; 
Altar and incense are too oft forgot. 

In striving with the world, delving the mine 
For gold, or the poor purchase of a Name. 

She in her heart's devotion ever kneels. 
Her oifering burns in one undying flame ; 

Hiding her pain but his she knows and feels, 
She lives, loves, hopes, and dies for him alone ; 

Woe, that such love and faith by man are over- 
thrown ! 



FLOWER FAYS. 



I WILL tell you of a vision, 

A \asion of sweet power, 
Which came from the Elysian, 

And was brought me by a flower. 

For an hour, a whole hour. 

Above it I would bend ; 
Would you thmk a little flower 

Could have won your simple friend, 

O'er its beauty frail, to ponder. 
With an earnest child-like wonder, 
And its leaflets fair to sunder. 
One by one ? 



FLOWKRFAYS. 117 

Call it not a cruel part ; 
For, within its tender heart, 
I had found a polished dart, 

Thither thrown 

By some merry-hearted boy, 
In the recklessness of joy, 
Never thinking 't would destroy 

Its young bloom. 

Oh, the rose did redly pout. 
As I pulled the arrow out ; 
And it scattered all about 

Its perfume, 

Till the fragrance made me faint ; 
When with gesture, O, so quaint ! 
Breathed it out a low complaint. 
In a song. 

Sooth, I can not give the ail". 
For it was, beyond compare. 
Very M'onderful and rare ; 

And a throng 



118 FLOWEE FAYS. 

Came, of inischief-loving sprites, 
"Who in damp, mid-summer nights, 
Toss the ever-flashing hghts. 

In the vale, — 



While the lonely whippowil, 
From his bower beneath the hill. 
All the listening air doth fill 

With his wail, — 



They with mirth-provoking glances. 
Wheeled around me in gay dances, 
Their brows wreathed with bright pansies. 
Wet with dew. 



Held each hand a cup of gold. 
Wreathed in shapes of fairest mold 
And the quaintest tales they told, 
Which, if true, 

I am sure I would not tell ; 
And if false, it were as well 
That a silence o'er them fell, 
Tenderly. 



FLOWER FAYS. 119 



So these I mil not recall, 
Tho' the drapery of them all 
Flutters, as a glittering pall, 
Over me. 



But the moral of them is, 
That thy life's distilled bliss, 
Never might atone for tliis 

"Wanton waste 

Of the cherished sweets, that clung 
Where my scented petals hung, 
And to heaven their sweetness flung, 
Baby-chaste. 

Speed then, gather up some one 
Of the leaves so careless thrown; 
Let its sad, forgiving tone, 

Plead its wrong. 

For each leaflet, spreading fair, 
Was the utterance of a prayer, 
Which the flower gave the air, 
In a song. 



1 20 F L O W E K FAYS. 

'Go-n the merry sprites to drink 
From the tiny goblet's brink ; 
At which one, with roguish wink, 

Drew more near ; 

And a saucy elf he was. 

For he touched my shoulder, as 

His thin treble, shi-ill as glass. 

Pierced my ear. 



" To illume earth's darkened hours. 
Heaven," he said, " sends human flowers, 
Human hearts from evil powers 
To bejruile. 



" And the aroma of sweet feeling 
From them, mistily is stealing, 
And the light of their revealing 
Is a smile. 

" But too oft they feign a part, 
Feigning, till the fearful smart, 
Of some unsuspected dart, 

Makes them feel 



FLOWER FAYS. 121 

Something of the debt they owe 
To the Heavens, that hestow 
Beauty's corruscatmg glow, 

Good and iU." 

Then he laughed out nienily, 
As he held his cup to me ; 
"This is nectai, drink!" said he, 
With a shout. 



Then I heard their goblets clink, 
Saw their little elf-eyes bUnk ; 
And they laughed, till one would think 
Such a rout 



All their bloomy sphere must shake, 
And its deepest caverns make 
Merry mocking echoes take. 
For a time ; 



TvTiilo the pool of lilies, thrilled 
Through and through, its ripples stilled, 
And the deeps of air were filled 

With the chime. 



KEVERIE. 



One summer evening, calm and still, 
I sat upon a mossy hill, 
And listened to the whippowil, 
Glad bird of night ; 

When came a voice, so soft and clear, 
It fell upon my raptured ear 
Like music from another sphere. 
In dreaming heard. 

It was a sound for earth too rare, 
A sad-like, yet a joyous air ; 
I can, to nothing fit, compare 
That minor sound. 



123 



Its vocal source I never knew ; 
It came upon me as the dew- 
Comes, and we ken not shape or hue, 
At shut of night. 

But oh, it had a power to still 
The ragings of the wayward will, 
And deep, with holy thoughts, to fiU 
The tranced mind. 



And other voices 'gan combine, 
To swell the choruses divine. 
Whereat my soul did gladly join, 
I knew not how. 

I know that, from their holy home, 
Exalted spirits oft will roam, 
And to the haunts of mortals come, 
With power to bless ; 

But never, till that rapturous even. 
Such grace was to my spirit given, 
To feel, to taste, so much of heaven. 
So much of God. 



RUTH, 



The veined Wind-Flower in the somber wood, 

Thought breeding Pansies in the sunlight glowing, 
Or red-cloaked Lihes in the meadows growmg. 

Best image thee, in every changing mood ; 

For as the tricksy shadows all the while, 
Keep dancing round us, in perpetual play, 
So, o'er tliy soul, its ever-changing sway 

Fancy asserts. Yet like a sea-girt Isle 

Reason, deep-centered, sits, Majestic Queen ! 
Though, all about, the wavelets gayly flash, 
On her white feet, with a perpetual dash. 

She keeps her throne immutably serene, 
"With an eternal svmshine on her brow. 
That sheds a rosy light on all the vales below. 



CLARE AND LILLIE, 



Oh, I see your little Lillian ! 

See your lily-bud so sweet, 
Floating amid clouds vermilion, 

With all loveliness replete. 
Oh, the soul-entrancing beauty 

Of the matchless Shming One ! 
We should bow m worship, could we 

Catch its full and perfect tone. 

Angels shield my tranced spirit! 

This is sure some glory-child, 
Born of beings who inherit 

Souls by flesh-robes undefiled ; 
What a glory floats around her, 

What a gleam is o'er her spread ; 
With white lilies they have croAvned her 

Meekly-bending, graceful head. 



126 CLARK AND LILLIK. 

Locks, of sunny hue, are flowing 

Lightly, o'er her snowy brow, 
"While her dimpled hands are throwing 

Recognition toward us, now. 
Father ! mother ! can your feeling 

Catch her j^resence bright and blest ? 
Does the beautiful revealing. 

With sweet influence, on you rest ? 

Lo, another spirit, bending 

Down the roseate serene ; 
Fuller maidenhood is blending 

In her graceful form, and mien ; 
Vails of gossamer are flo^nng 

Down her white limbs, to her feet, 
And the zephyrs, round her blowing, 

Are most redolent of sweet. 

Round her neck, and on her bosom, 

Hangs a fragrant garland bright, 
Formed of every beauteous blossom 

SiDringing in Elysian hght, 
Violets, and pale pink roses. 

With each radiant, starry bloom ; 
Even the myrtle here, reposes 

All foi'getful of its gloom. 



CLAKE AND ULLIE. 12V 

And tliis incense-breathing garland, 

Heaving with her bosom's swell, 
Wakens visions of that far land. 

Where perfected spirits dwell. 
In her left hand she is holding 

A fair tablet, ivory white, 
Slowly, with her right, unfolding 

Pictures radiant as light. 

A gem-studded pencil, slender, 

Hangs suspended from her neck, 
She, with glance inspired and tender ; 

Gazes at the clouds that deck. 
In the west, the distant sky-hill, 

With all gorgeous colorings ; 
Tears the depths of her dark eye fill, 

Joying in their glorious things, 

Now her snowy arm she stretches 

Upward, toward the blue profound, 
Then, with hasty hand, she sketches 

All the gorgeous scene around. 
Oh, to see her, as she lingers 

Over each harmonious line. 
See her slender, svmlit fingers, 

So translucently divine ; 



128 CLARE AND LILLIE. 

See the changing of hei' features, 

Of her red lips' tuneful jilay, 
'T would exalt even earthly natures 

To obUvion of their clay ! 
Now the fringed lids are drooping 

Over eyes dark -luminous ; 
Forward she is slowly stooping, 

Ah ! methinks, she looks on us : 
Yes, she sees ! is recognizmg 

"Well known faces. Do you hear 
The blent voices now, uprising, 

Of your Lillian, and Clare ? 

Lo, the vision bright, advances ; 

Very near us are they now ; 
And the rapture of their glances, 

Sheds a light on either brow. 
Joy a festival is holding 

On each brightening lip and cheek 
Now their Avhite arras interfolding 

Seems it as if they would speak 

Wait ! a moment wait ! until I 

Catch the words of that sweet pair ; 

List ! " O, know you not your Lillie ?" 
" Have you, then, forgotten Clare ?" 



CLARE AND LILLIE. 129 

Lillie whispers, " Love to brother, 

Little darling good and true !" 
Clare says, " Love to sweetest mother ; 

Love, my dearest friends, to you !» 
Now the twain are upward Avinging, 

Each a beauteous spirit-bird, 
Sweetest songs, so sweetly singing, 

As no mortal ever heard! 
6* 



SONG OF THE CHILDREN, 



Ha, ha, ha ! la, la, la ! 

Ho, ho, ho, ho ! 
Lu, lu, lu ! hu, hu, hu ! 

Lu, lu, lu, lu ! 

Repletest, with sweetest 

And holiest power, 
Caressings, and blessings, 

Upon you we shower. 
Meriily, cheerily. 

Play we our parts ; 
Loving, improving, 

And gladdening, your hearts. 

Ha, ha, ha ! la, la, la ! 

Keep to the chime ; 
Louder shout, as about 

Whirling in time. 



SONG OF THE CHILDREN. 131 

Violette. Mignonette, 

Star-Beam and Mist ; 
Lily-Bud, Rosengood, 

Bright Amethyst ! 

Ho, ho, ho ! so we go, 

See, as we fly, 
Beautiful, musical. 

Waters run by. 
Rivers deep, ever sweep, 

Tunefully sweet. 
Dashing thus, luminous 

Globes at our feet. 

Fairy-like, airy-like, 

Melodies flow, 
Such, even, as in heaven 

The Glorified know. 
The refrain breath again, 

Louder, more clear ! 
Let it blend, as we bend 

Over you, here. 

Violette, Mignonette, 

Still swifter go ! 
Lily-Bud, Rosengood, 

Thus let it flow. 



132 SONG OF THE CIIILDEEN. 

Ha, ha, ha ! la, la, la ! 

Star-Beam and Mist, 
Trip and sing, jn our ring, 

Bright Amethyst. 

Pebble-stones have their tones, 

Each one its own, 
Gurgle-glad, murmur-sad, 

Laugh they, or moan ; 
Beauty-fraught is the thought 

Of the stream's daughters, 
And they laugh, as they quaff 

Of the bright waters ! 

Mountain-tops, fountain-drops, 

And the rocks rude, 
Have a speech, that would reach 

To our soul's good ; 
And the breeze, in the trees, 

Tells ever a tale, 
As it drops from their tops, 

With a hum, to the vale. 

There 's a power, in each flower, 
To take from the heart 

Its festering, pestering, 
Poisonous smart ; 



SONG OF THK CHILDKE2f. 133 

And to Still any ill 

That to mortals may come, 
And, for this, Avould we kiss 

Every beautiful bloom. 

As we sing, see us bring. 

From our Elysian, 
Wreaths so bright, that they might 

Glad a saint's vision ; 
Amaranth, Hyacinth, 

Blooms never sere ; 
Lily-bells, Asphodels, 

Bright through the year ; 

Rejoicing, hi voicmg 

Some hymn, that may tell, 
Of a plain where no pain, 

For a moment, can dwell ; 
Where sorrow can harrow 

Remembrance no more, 
Despairing and caring. 

Forever are o'er ! 

Where joy, no alloy 

Of its glory has shorn, 
And the rose may rejDOse, 

Unallied to its thorn : 



134 SONG OF THE CHILDREN. 

And we children, in wildering 
Dances, are wliirled, — 

The living, life-giving, 

Sweet flo-wers of this world! 

Mignonette! Violette! 

Star-Beam and Mist ! 
Rosengood! Lily-Bud! 

Bright Amethyst ! 
Ha, ha, ha ! la, la, la ! 

Trip it and sing, 
Ho, ho, ho ! lo, lo, lo ! 

Whirl in our ring ! 



I 



TO GEORGE SHEPARD BURLEIGH. 



God of Heaven ! what a tlirong 
Of the Beautiful, the Strong, 
And the glorious Sons of Song, 

Bursts upon my gaze ! 
What a light is o'er me shed, 
As thy spirit-courts I tread, 
And its mazy windings thread ; — 

StUl, the faintest haze 
Rests upon the radiance bright, 
So to temporize the light, 
As to shield my dazzled sight 

From too brilliant rays. 

Now I tread an Ocean-shore 
Where Thought's billows, evermore. 
An exalted music pour, 

Thrillingly profound ; 



136 TO GEOIIGE SIIEPAKD BURLEIGH. 

With majestic strength replete, 
White-maned Waves their marches beat, 
Thundering on with surf-shod feet, — 

Glancmg swiftly round, I, i 

Till some Reason-rock they spy, * 

When, with foam-crest mane tossed high, 
With a loud exultant cry, 

'Gainst it, wild, they bound ; 
Stunned to madness by the blow, 
Backward, as retreating foe. 
The reluctant coursers go, — 

Making heaven resound 
Their reverberating neigh, 
Shaking from their flanks the spray, 
Scattering, as they haste away, 

Clouds of gems around. 



Now it changes to my view, 
And the waters, then so blue, 
Glow with every rainbow hue, 

Gloriously bright ! 
And they lie as calm and still, 
With an all-pervading thrill, 
As if God their deeps did fill 

With excess of Ught ; 



TO GEORGE SHEPARD BURLEIGH, 137 

For ill sudden, fitful gleams, 

Lo, the radiancy streams. 

As the light of heavenly dreams 

Gilds the blackest night. 
'Neath the ever-changing tide 
Shoals of silvery fishes glide, 
Monarchs of the deep beside, 

Kingliest in might. 



Now beneath cerulean skies, 
Trees of stateliest strength arise, 
Fruit the rarest, ripest, lies 

Scattered every where : 
O'er the flower-bespangled ground 
LoveUest forms are gliding round, 
To a most be^^itching sound, 

Sweet beyond compare. 
In the deepening, overhead, 
Go the stars with regal tread, 
By their royal Princess led. 

Where Night's monarchs are : 
Star to stai', now, hear I, calling, . 
As "wdth brilliancy appalling, 
From that awful height they 're falling, 

Like a rain of fire ! 



138 TO GEORGE SHEPABD BURLEIGH. 

From these burning meshes, fraught 
With intensest threads of thought, 
What a fabric might be wrought, 

Than all earth-wefts higher. 
Arbors of this boundless field 
Choicest fruits and flowers yield, 
'Neath its turf there lie concealed 

Gems, and rubies rare ; 
Brightest birds are o'er it winging. 
Sweetest carols gayly singing. 
To thy spirit ever bringing 

Somids, which might inspire 
Symphonies that could awake 
Such deep echoes, they should make 
The vibratmg earth to shake. 

As a wind-swept lyre, 



With a hush-inspiring finger, 
Evermore I 'd finger, finger 
Near one most impassioned singer, 

In this glorious choir; 
Oh, I pray thee Spirit ! pour 
That entrancing music o'er. 
Once again, and evermore ! 

Me it Avill inspire. 



TO GEORGE SHEPARD BURLEIGH. 139 

With all \'isionings most high, 
All divinest harmony, 
All sublimest ecstasy, 

Ever reaching higher, 
So to clas}) some angel-hancl. 
Of the blessed, blessing band, 
In the radiant sjDirit-land, 

To which I aspire I 



LIFE'S MYSTERY. 



Lite in its various changes, 

Life in its phases rude, 
Life in its highest ranges, 

Was never iinderstood ! 

Life, when most staid and quiet, 

Life, when most crowned with good, 

Life, howsoe'er we try it, 
Was never understood ! 

Life ! over it, forever. 

Will doubt, and darkness brood, 
To baffle man's endeavor. 

To make it understood. 



LIFE'S MYSTERY. 141 

Life ! O, the Life of living, 

Its highest altitude, 
Must ever be in giving, 

Were it rightly understood. 

Since life's appointed mission, 

For which alone we live, 
Li high, or low condition, 

Is evermore to give, 

In answer to our giving 

"We evermore receive ; 
And, gratefully receiving, 

We fruitfully believe. 

Belief is but ascension 

Unto the high and good ; 
And doubt, a sad detention 

By things ill understood. 

Then grant us patience, Father ! 

Whom many ills enthrall, — 
For in ourselves we gather 

The sufferings of all. 



142 LIFE'S MYSTERY. 

But still as we are nearing 

Those clear, calm, heights, and true, 

Sweet voices are we hearing. 
And love-lights gild our view. 

Oh, Life of our creation ! 

It were a heaven to us, 
Could we keep the high relation 

Distinct, harmonious, 

Between the flesh and spirit. 
And of the soul to thee. 

That the mansions we inherit 
As thy holy courts may be. 



THE JOY OF ACTION. 



Thus beside thee as I linger, 

Angel arms our forms entwine ; 
Each inspired, lovely singei', 

Chants a hymn of the Divine. 
Most familiar is their greeting. 

Tenderly they press my hand, 
All the while the slow time beating. 

With a httle silver wand. 

Seems it as if I were dreaming. 

On a bed of poppies white. 
Their low singing, and the gleaming 

Of the lithe wand, and the light. 
Now a most enchanting essence 

Stupifies my every sense. 
And I feel its witching presence 

Through the dulled nerves' sweet suspense. 



144 THE JOY OF ACTION. 

But they go ! tliey are ascending ; 

Oh, sweet souls I half adore, 
Bless ye, for the many blendmg 

Benisons ye on me shower ! 
They have left us to each other, 

Wilt thou suffer me to come ? 
I the flowers of thought will gather 

Blooming in thy spirit home. 

"What a strange, foreboding quiet. 

Seems to rest on all around. 
Here 's a lakelet, and anigh it 

Bright translucent shells abound, 
Here are birds that are not singing. 

Fishes, but they do not play, 
Nothing with swift gladness springing : 

Is it night, or is it day ? 
Tliat thy soundless mental ocean, 

Like a sheet of silver spread, 
Lies as listless, without motion, 

As if all its waves were dead, 

Would'st thou rouse thy dormant powers 
To some action, true and high. 

Startling, from these listless hours, 
All their blank vacuity, — 



THE JOY OF ACTION. 145 

Sought'st thou, with a pure intention, 

Some good pui-jDOse to fulfill, — 
Drawn to their extremest tension, 

All thy nerves with joy would thrill. 
Work ! there comes no angel bi'inging 

Deeper peacefulness than he, 
Joy and health leap upward, singing 

In his regal coznpany. 

Thou art gentle, kind, and loving, 

And thy spirit is serene 
As the gauzy, white clouds, moving 

'Twixt the azui-e and the green. 
Need it were baptized in trial ; 

Action should illume the shrine, 
And the fires of self-denial 

Consecrate it, and refine. 

What a heaven-descended dower 

Those deep sympathies of thine ! 
Thou should'st guard them, as a power, 

And a fellowship, divine. 
That will lift thy soul to Heaven, 

Or that Heaven bring down to thee, 
Where thy thirsting life may lave in 

Floods of conscious Deity. 



LOVE'S IMMORTALITY. 



Know, my loved ones, I am Ida : 
And, that ye might know me well, 

All the eve I stood beside her 
Who will now my message tell. 

I have lingered in yom* presence, 
Many a time, before to-night. 

Shedding o'er yom' souls a pleasance, 
Like a soft, inspiring light. 

As the moonbeams, through the lattice, 
Will uncertain shadows cast ; 

As a sunlit vapor, that is 
Like a memory of the past ; 



J 



love's immortality. 147 

As the drowsy vail of twilight, 

Shimmering in an eve of Jime ; 
As a waking love-dream's eye light ; 

As the hidden wild bee's tune ; 

So, through earth-life's sensate curtam, 

Through your misty vision bent, 
Gleams my j^resence, pale, uncertain, 

Distant-seeming, sweet, but faint ! 



Yet, my arms around you flinging, 
Long above you have I hung, 

With affection's tendrils clinging 
Round you, as in life they clung. 

As in life ':' ah ! I am giving 
Unto Avords an carth-hke hue ; 

Never had I know^i of living 

Till I passed death's portals through ; 

Never known the god-like story 

Of the everlasting soul; 
The immeasurable glory. 

That its destinies unroll. 



148 LOVE'S IMMORTALITY. 

O, my friends ! I scarce know whether 
Most I love, or most adore, 

This all-loving, holy Father, 

Whose Divine gifts on us shower. 

And I quiver, as I name him, 
With an ever quick surprise ; 

To my lips come high, acclaiming 
Plaudits, thrillmg to the skies. 

And there come the clearest ringing, 
Intertwining notes, that swell 

All around mc, as the cUnging 
Pulses of a silver bell. 

And a hymning low, and tender, 
Ovei-flows and floods my soul ; 

Every thought it seems to render 
Strong, though sweet, in its control. 

I have lingered unbelieving, 
In the broad, convincing hght ; 

For it seemed like a deceiving 
Dream of beauty, fleet as bright, 



LOVE'S I M M O RT A I. IT Y. 149 

That one spirit, thus, should enter 

To another's mortal home, 
While that other, from its center, 

Over trackless fields might roam. 

Yet, my friends, while I am speaking 
Through these tranced lips, to you, 

Their freed spirit journies, seeking 
Fields the senses never knew. 



This unvails the sweetest mystery 
Life has lent me, even here, 

This turns prophecy to history, 

Of earth's marriage with our sphere,- 

Your old earth becomes less earthy, — 

Marriage holy and divine. 
Of whose ritual high and worthy, 

Here behold the living sign ; 

Coming, as the soft caressmgs 

Of a mother's love below, 
Coming, vnth. the highest blessings 

Which the blest in glory know. 



150 L O V Ji' S I M M O K T A L I T Y . 

Ask ye Avhy, amid the pleasures 
Which are my attendants here, 

My soul seeks to tread the measures 
That it trod uj^on that sphere ? 

Know, the soul that loves, believing, 

Never loses aught it loves; 
But, for evermore receiving, 

Ever takes, where'er it roves, 
The distilled sweets of loving, 

The refined soul of sense ; 
And the heart grows richer, proving 

Love's repletest competence. 

Therefore, purified, I carry 

All my earth-born tendernesses, 

Thus I still delight to tarry 

'Mid love's flowery wildernesses, 

And in heaven rejoice to many 
Loving lips, in pure caresses. 



THY MOTHER 



A BRIGHT Figure, beaming 

In the rose-light of dreaming, 
Seems folding us close m embraces of love ; 

Ah, see ! 'tis none other 

Than thy beautiful mother. 
Bending lovingly down from the silence above. 

Oh, say, canst thou hear her ? 

Come nearer! come nearer! 
Her tones are so mellow, low, soothing and sweet ; 

Each sense I surrender 

To an influence so tender, 
And sink in a rajiture of bliss at her feet. 

The tender est blessings, 
The sweetest caressings 
That ever a mother on daughter did shower, 



152 THY MOTHEK. 

All pure consecrations, 
All high aspirations, 
She lavishes on thee, unchanajed with the hour. 



Her love-light will strengthen 
When dun shadow's lengthen. 

And life's stilly evening succeeds to its noon, 
"When day, with its hid light, 
Sinks starless to midnight. 

Her love wiU be o'er thee for j^lanet and moon. 



Her exquisite spirit 

Must surely inherit 
A home of rich beauty and loveliness rare, 

For, dimly beholding 

Her glorious unfolding, 
I see a clear flush in the scintillant air. 



And a sense of contrition, 

And lowlier submission 
Grows strong in my soul with my strengthening faith. 

Oh is it but seeming, 

Illusion and dreaming ? 
Or have I gone up through the portal-s of death ? 



THY MOTHER. 153 

With rapturous singing 

The angels are winging 
In circles resplendent, or poised in the air ; 

Oh, Infinite Father ! 

From thee I would gather 
New strength, by new virtue, their glory to hear. 

Oh crucified Meekness, 

Dear Christ ; to my weakness 
Give Faith as a garment around me to fold. 

And, ever attendant 

These visions resplendan , 
In the chilly earth air, let my spirit behold. 



INVOCATION. 



Beautiful spirits, gloriously fair ! 
Fondly ye hover round the loved one there, 
In the stern strife from love and home afar 
Where the grim legions of the AUen arc ; 
Yet he beholds not, though ye come so near : 
Can ye not, spirits, make his vision clear, 
Lift from his weary hand liis drooping head, 
And from that breast, to saddened fancies wed. 
Drive the dark spirit of distrust and woe, 
And wipe the tears that from his soul's eye flow ? 
Ye can the Wanderer of his pangs beguile, 
And light his dim'd eye with a radiant smile. 
Make his still heavt aloft for joy to spring, 
And lend old gladness an exultant vnng. 
Draw the dark future's clinging vail away, 
And fill his soul with promises of day, 



1 X V O C AT I O X. 155 



That he its kindUiig raptures may behold, 
Pleasures unthought, and ecstasies untold. 



Now as ye wheel in mazy circles round, 
He starts ! he Ustens ! yes, he hears the sound 
Of the glad notes your choirs are chantmg now, 
See, what a glory sits upon his bi-ow ! 
With what delight are his quick pulses thrilled, 
With what enchantment is his bosom filled ! 
Now to the Father — forced no more to roam- 
In dreams of Heaven his spirit flutters home, 
Leans on the Saviour in a blissful thought ; 
With joy we leave him to the spell ye 've wrought. 



Ah, see ! he kneels, he bows in fervent prayer ; 
To hun, sweet sisters, let us draw more near. 
Pour a full blessing on his youthful head, 
And heavenly love like balmy incense shed. 
As his soul hungers for the joys of heaven, 
Give him to feel his sins are all forgiven ; 
Then, as his spirit calmly sleeps in bliss. 
Just touch its red lips with a parting kiss ; 
Once more a heartfelt blessing we renew. 
And turn to leave him with a blithe adieu. 



156 INVOCATION. 

Beautiful Spirits, hasten not away ! 
Leave, leave with me a blessuig too, I pray : 
And ere the dying of that farewell strain, 
Promise me. Spirits, to return again. 
Or that I meet you in the realms of air, 
Beautiful Spirits, gloriously fair ! 



THE SERPENT HORROR. 



Because we have wandered in error, 

The serpent is armed with a sting; 
And wisdom is clad in the symbols of terror, 

Our souls to their center to bring. e. d. b. 



I WITH pain had wrestled fiercely, 
Void of slumber, through the night, 

When there came a dream to pierce me 
Through and through, with wild affright. 

I was walking in a forest, 

In the damp, autunmal year. 
Where the frost, with touch the sorest, 

Made the leaves look brown and sere ; 
Wlien, upon a little hillock 

Blooming 'mid the dearth around. 
Underneath a high and still rock, 

I a Uttle violet found. 



168 THE SERPENT HORROR. 

And it nodded O, so quaintly ! 

As I bent above its bloom, 
Though it seemed to cling more faintly 

To the strength of its perfume. 

And I whispered, " Wherefore hiding 

Thus away from mortal view ?" 
Oh its glance was so confiding 

From its modest eye of blue, 
As its golden-crested finger 

It extended towards me, 
Saying slowly, " Dost thou think a 

Woodland floweret to be 
One whose longing could be ro\dng 

In the garish light of day ? 
No, its nature is too lovuig 

From its peaceful home to stray. 

" There are blooms more jjroud and haughty. 

Which in stately grandeur stand. 
With their brilliant dresses, gaudy, 

Admiration to command ; 
These have gone to gUd your arbors 

With their glory-blending hues. 
While this quiet nest still harbors 

The pale violets, which choose 



THE SEKPJENT HOBROK. 159 

For their loved and lovely dwelling 

This so deeply sheltered nook, 
Where I faui would hold thee, tellmg 

Of the hymnings which have broke 
Round about us, morn and even, 

From kind nature's ministries, 
Ever giving and receiving 

Fraternizing sympathies." 

I was listening to the flower 

By its low bed seated low, 
When with fascmating power 

A bright serpent glided slow, 
From a crevice, and around me 

Flickered with a graceful sweep, 
And I stirred not, for it bound me 

In the subtle cords of sleep. 

It approached me nearer, nearer, 

With its glossy, glittering coils, 
Till at length I seemed to hear a 

Sweet voice say, " Escape its toils !" 
But I could not, from my sleeping. 

Summon strength enough to start. 
When as hghtning, lightly leaping. 

It fell nestling in my heart ; 



160 THE SERPENT HORROR. 

And I felt it twining, twining, 

With its circlets icy cold, 
And I saw the shining, shining 

Of each tight'ning, clinging fold ; 
Till with nerve and fiber shrinking 

From the rigor of its grasj). 
In its fierce embraces sinking, 

Fainter and fainter grew each gasp. 

Seemed the firmament as falling 

In dense blackness to the ground, 
And a shadoAV, most appallmg, 

Settled upon all around ! 
Still more tightly did he fold me ! 

Tightly and more tightly still ! 
And I had not strength to hold me 

In resistance to his wiU ; 
Till, with terror inly quivering, 

Of its poisonous breath I drank, 
And it sent a fatal shivering 

Through me, as in death I sank. 

"Was it death ? nay, 't was not dying, 
But a sinking, soaring, flying, 
And the furies seemed to goad the 
Memories of the past, to load me 



THE SEKPENT HORKOR. 161 

With tlie dark and scentless flowers 
Which had sj)rung in noxious bowers, 
Where, through all the lingering hours, 
Drizzled dank and poisonous showers ; 
In each blossom, folded close. 
Was a serpent's dark repose. 
And instead of perfumed kisses 
You but caught a serpent's hisses ! 



Even the trees, around me there, 
Tall and scaly sei'pents were, 
Every branch a snaky form, 
Writhing, hissmg in the storm ! 
Earth, on which I feared to tread, 
Seemed a monstrous snake outspread ; 
Brooks and rivers, and the ocean, 
Took a twining, sUmy motion ; 
Ay, the clouds above them all, 
Changed to serpents, great and small. 
" Oh, ye heavens !" I shuddering moan, 
" I too, am a serpent grown. 
Hissing, twining, coiling, rattling, 
With the hideous serpents battlmg. 
Sunk their venomed stings beneath 
Pray I, Father, give me death !" 



162 



THE S K R P E N T H O E R O E . 



To die, to die ! it may not be ; 
There is no peace but victory ; 
Then patiently abide the strife, 
There is no death but only Life ! 

Thou didst forget to call last night 
Upon thy guardian angel bright. 
Who hitherto has watched thy sleep, 
Its dreamings pure and high to keep ; 
Thy nightly prayer thou didst forget, 
And, with incautious fingers, let 
Strange guests into thy spirit come, 
Thus driving from their sacred home 
The pure and peaceful thoughts serene — 
Angels of beauty, who, between 
Their heaven and thee, have ever kept 
Sweet intercourse ; and as there swept, 
Across thy vision, forms so wild, 
Sweetly the conscious guardians smiled, 
As, with angelic love and grace. 
They sought the phantoms to displace. 



In thine own soul the power doth lie 
To bid each hateful influence fly ; 
From thine own self the power must come 
To lighten and refine thy home, 



THE SERPENT II O E K O R . 163 

If thou but sjjeak the magic word 
Whereby the soul's deep founts are sth-red, 
Light, Love, and Truth, Avill sprmg to birth, 
With the new Heavens and neAV Earth. 



AN ADMONITION. 



With tliy soul is earliest morning, 
And the dew lies on the ground, 

While a glory, all-adorning, 

From the sun is poured around. 

In thy bosom playful fancies 
A beguiling sweetness shed. 

As the odors of young pansies 
'Neath the sportive Fairies' tread. 

Half-blown lilies are revealing 
Snowy busts in bodice green. 

Buds of tenderest thought and feeling 
Half-expanded, bloom between. 

Like bright bubbles, gayly flashing 
On some streamlet as it flows, 

Or as ocean wavelets plashing 
In the noon of night's repose ; 



AN ADMONITION. 165 

As tlio laughing sylphs, advancing 

In their revels, full of glee, 
"With the flashing billows dancmg 

To the mornmg's melody ; 

As fresh grasses m the meadows, 

As the shadows on the hills, 
As the twittering of young sparrows, 

As the mcense noon distills ; 

As the breath of blooming clover, 

Glances of red berries bright, — 
So around, beneath, and over; 

All thy soul is a delight ! 

But I give thee earnest warning 

That its weapons are too fine, 
Less for conflict than adorning. 

Sterner metal should be thine, 

Fit to strengthen and ennoble 

All the future of thy hfe, 
Arming for the day of trouble, 

Arming for the day of strife. 



^m' 






SALUTATION AND CHEER. 



On blame me not, May, that so long I delayed 
My coming to greet thee ; my footstei^s were stayed 
By a lingering fear that thou would'st not believe 
The words I might speak, or it haply might grieve 
Thy sensitive nature, my Beautiful One ! 
Yet dearest, believe me, thou art not alone. 
I linger above thee, by day and by night, 
I share in thy sorrows, and in thy dehght. 

There are times when my presence has over thee thro^vn 
An influence of sweetness thou canst not diso^vn. 
There are times when I hold thee within my embrace, 
And gaze, as at first, on thy love-lighted face : 
There are times when old feelings within thee are stirred 
Till thou thrillest with rapture, my beautiful Bird ! 



SALUTATION AND CHEER, 167 

Be patient, be hopeful, let what will betide ; 
There are spirits of beauty who walk by thy side. 
I will come to thee, Mary, will over thee bend 
As a guardian angel, thy steps to attend ; 
Bright joy to thy life I will evermore bring. 
And aye to my strength shall thy gentleness cling. 

Then deem it no weakness to cherish a love 

For thy young heart's betrothed, though his home be 

above, 
To live in the bhss of his loving caresses, 
For thee with delight he embraces and blesses. 
May love, joy, and peace, bo the crown of thy life, 
And death bring my Mary, my darling, my wife ! 



TO PROFESSOR 



Yet once again, most joyfully, I come 

Within the circle of thy soul's high home. 

Again I bend, my sjjirit-brow to lave 

In healing waters from the crystal wave 

Of thy deep ocean of exalted thought, 

With power-inspiring power as richly fraught 

As the famed pool Bethesda could have been, 

Save when the influence of the Nazarene 

Rested upon it. Still dwells with thee such 

Blessed divinity of angel touch, 

As, in its worth, might almost rival, even 

That which adorned the glorious Son of Heaven, 

For as Heaven's Son we ever recognize 

The lowly Jesus, — though our spirit eyes 

See other sons of Heaven, less good, less pure, 

Less perfect, yet as willing to endure 



TO PEOFESSOR . 169 

The martyi'dom of suffering and of shame, 
That comes to all who dare assmne a name 
Which the false years presumptuously condemn, — 
The mocking years, how not, my soul, to them ' 
Bigots and tyrants, fell and treacherous, 
Forever cry " Ye shall not rule o'er us !" — 
To the pure spirits, who, with holiest love, 
Their wicked, sensual, selfish deeds reprove. 
Redeemers, Saviours, we ne'er recognize, 
Until the mission of their high emprise 
Hath been perfected, then, the blind may see, 
Clustering about them, their Divinity. 



My spirit-brother ! Shall I call thee such ? 
Emboldened by the sweet, inspiring touch 
Of thy soul's finger, seeming to impart 
Sublimest teachings to my kindling heart, 
Thrilling my lips as with celestial fire, 
Awakening in me aspirations, higher 
And holier, than aijy I have caught 
From lips, unless by inspiration fraught, 
Thy fleshly raiment now is rent away, 
I see thee all divested of thy clay. 
And read thy spirit, as I read a book ; 
Through all its inmost mysteries I look. 
8 



170 TO PROFESSOR . 

As sparkling bubbles on a limpid stream, 
In the soft moonlight beautifully gleam, 
Or as the wavelets on the ocean's blue, 
With silvery gleamings, fascinate the view, 
As sportive sylphs, by their bewitcliing dance 
O'er the bright waters, every eye entrance, 
Along its course thy Ufe-stream ever glides, 
Watering the simplest herbage by its sides. 
Foam-wreaths of Fancy, o'er its surface fly. 
Feeling's fair liUes in the sunbeams lie. 
Meandering now through blooming meadows fair, 
Where spring the flowers of science, rich and rare, 
Through forest thick, where Wisdom's stately trees. 
Lift their high branches to the swelling breeze ; 
Anon through valleys shady, quiet, low, 
Mid thirsty plants and hungry roots to flow ; 
Then on a fruitful, far-extending plain. 
It spreads its bosom to the sun and rain. 
That it may give the healing draught again 
To thirsty mortals, who, devoid of sight. 
Walk blindfold, ever groping for the light. 

Wliat a strange study is thy soul to me ; 
Simple and clear, yet full of mystery, 
A subtle link ruiites it to a mesh 
Of half instinctive, half i-eflecting flesh ; 



TO PROFESSOR . IVI 

Yet is the tie so subtle and so slight, 
They stand apart, dissevered in my sight. 
If, on thy actual hand, or heart, or brow, 
I place my actual hand, as I do now. 
An answering throb, in unison most clear, 
Gives an assurance thou art of this sphere ; 
But if my spirit hand I clasp with thine, 
The inspiration makes us both divine. 
And in a circle, sweeping far above 
Earth's narrow limits, hand in hand we rove, 
Through most transcendent, glorious abodes. 
Into the presence of the God of gods! 
And feel our spirits sweetly harmonize, 
In all perfections growing great, and wise. 



FORESHADOWINGS. 



Though I know thou art not seeking 
For the things I now rehearse, 

Yet am I impelled to speaking, 
And the utterance comes in verse. 

Thou art formed for highest uses, 

Though, upon thy mental skies, 
Hang the clouds of dark abuses, 

Hindering the sweet sunrise 
Of that Faith, which should enUghten 

All the future, to thy tread, 
While the stars of Hope that brighten, 

Melt in glory over head ! 

For I feel this strong assurance, 
That within thy noble heart 

Bum the fires of true endurance. 
That to others might impart 



FORES H ADO WINGS. lYS 

Strength to conquer the conspiring 

Enemies of Truth and Right ; 
Courage, faith, and love refiring 

At thy own heart's altar-light. 



Tenderly the dawn reposes 

On thy spirit beauty-crowned, 
And the breath of full-blown roses 

Sheds their fragrances around. 
Reason's oaks, with strength majestic, 

Stand hke marshaled sentinels. 
Casting shadows, most fantastic, 

Over all the flowery deUs, 



Now their leaves, in blithe carousing. 
Dance, and drink the dew-drops rare. 

And anon, hang, faintly drowsing. 
In the incense-freighted air. 



Noble cities, grand and stately, 
With full many a teeming mart, 

Mountains towering up sedately — 
Nature's wonder-works of art ; 



174 F O K E S H A 1) O W I N G S . 

Every tiling iii earth, air, ocean, 

I have seen reflected here, 
In minute, but just .proportion, 

Forming an harmonious sphere, 
Where thy sun, with perfect glory. 

O'er a cloudless noon shall shine. 
And fleet angels bear the story 

Of the morning's birth divine. 



Oh, I hear their gladsome singing, 

See them with bright garlands crowned. 
While the vaulted heavens are ringmg 

With the rapture-pealing soimd. 
See the countless millions gather ! 

Oh, I shudder, shiver, sink ; 
Shelter ! save me. Heavenly Father ! 

Still, forbid me not to drink 
From these waters of the Elysian, 

On whose liills, of broader scope, 
To my soul's anointed vision. 

Scenes of deeper glory ope ; 
Giving those intense revealings. 

Which the sight can scarce endure ; 
Consecrating all my feelings. 

With a baptism high and pure. 



FORESHADOWINGS. 175 

Seems as from me lite Avere fleeing, 

God's effulgence so doth fill 
Every inlet of my being, 

With an all-pervading thrill. 

Dearest Father ! thou hast told me 

We were of Thyself a part ; 
Oh, then, as an infant, fold me 

Near to thy sustaining heart ; 
Still permitting that I cherish 

This sweet vision ; let it stay 
As a ray that can not perish, 

Dawn of thy eternal Day. 



EIVAL CLAIMS. 



Never knew I harp so changing 
As this spirit lyi-e of thine, 

Now, where angel hands are ranging, 
Now where fingers less di-^dne. 

Here a tone of triumph talcing, 
Self-reUant, calm, and strong ; 

There Avith terror weakly shaking, 
Pouring a complaining song. 

Strangest discord quivers through it ; 

Thrills a harmony sublime ; 
Loving spnpathies subdue it 

To a loving, tender, chime. 



RIVAL CLAIMS. 177 

Now imbued with deepest sadness, 

Then with passionate desire, 
Soon, intoxicating gladness, 

Vibrates on the tremblmg wire. 



O, 'tis piteous ! thus to squander 

An inheritance so high, 
Thus to vacillate, and wander, 

'Twixt the lights of fen and sky. 

Learn to prize the liberal treasure 
In thy deep heart slumbering, 

Tune thy lyre to some fixed measure, 
Some star-centered rhythm sing. 



Maiden, blushing the confession 
Of the virtues in thy breast, 

"With thy womanly expression 
In the sweetest accents dressed: 



In thy gentle nature blending 
Every captivating grace, 

And the rival charms, contending 
In thy ever-changing face, 
8* 



178 RIVAL CLAIMS. 

Thou art regal as a queen is. 
And withal as rich a dower ; 

Would'st thou teach thy heart sereneness, 
Then were thine a queenly power. 

Then arouse thee, gentle sister ! 

Life is far too brief an hour 
For our souls to dwarf its vista, 

By the wasting of a flower. 

Rival crowns I see before thee 
One of pure and true desire, 

One, if once it glitters o'er thee. 
It shaU cling like chemic fire. 

Take the star-cro-^vn of the Father; 

Spurn the tempter's diadem ; 
And thy coming days shalT gather 

Power and Peace, perfecting them. 



SUPPLICATION. 



TO LIZZIE. 



A MOTHER is bending, with love-light descending, 
From her sunny, sweet face, o'er a daughter as fair ; 

And oft, in extreme night, her touch will the dream 
hght 
That cheers her in slumber, or lightens her care. 

With hohest feeling, that mother is kneeling 
In prayer without ceasing, effectual, deep ; 

Some gentle revealing, at times, must be stealing 
O'er the heart of her daughter, if only in sleep. 

Oh, yes ! I behold now, a hght on her cold brow, 
That lends a conviction my vision is sure, 

Oh then, ever careful, be watchful, and prayerful, 
To heed well a guidance so loving and pure. 



180 SUPPLICATION. 

Her spirit hath cro^vTied thee with strength, that around 
thee 
Hath kindled a light, in thy darkness so drear. 
Oh, heed then, her warning ; be the noon to thy morn- 
ing 
Effulgent in beauty, in purity clear. 

Let no sin of omission, no deeds for contrition, 
Between her pure spirit and thy spirit come ; 

But ever as now, bear untarnished thy brow, 

And may souls of the pure ever hallow thy home. 



THE HEALING GIFT, 



Spirit of spirits! Mind supreme of mind, 
He did at first a fadeless laurel bind 
Around thy spirit's pure transparent brow, 
Lending all sweet perennial flowers that blow, 
For thy green chaplet, full of odors sweet. 
And with all healing potences replete. 

Yes ! it is true, thou did'st the power receive 
Largely, all pain and anguish to relieve. 
Controlling all the demons of disease. 
While prescient sufferers eagerly would seize 
Thy healing hand, upon their hearts to press, 
Taking new vigor from its soft caress. 

Behold, sweet sister ! see anear thee stand 
A shining angel with a silvery wand ; 



182 THE HEALING GIFT. 

Slowly he waves it over earth and sea, 
Then gently lays the crystal point on thee, 
With touch resistless in its strong control, 
Nerving the feeblest purpose of thy soul. 

Still more impressive grows the heavenly scene 
By the bright presence of the Nazarene, 
In whom, supreme the healing gift was found ; 
His glorious brow with martyrdom is crowned, 
And, kindly bending from the calm above. 
He folds thee closely in his arms of love ! 

Prize of thy generous heart and lofty deed. 
Thine is the sacred gift, the exalted meed, 
Some soothing cordial on each wound to pour. 
Some healing balm, for every suffering hour 
That earth's afficted sons are doomed to know. 
In their wide wanderings through this vale of woe. 

Sad hearts are gladdened by thy cheering tones. 
As the lone widow, by Maria's son's ; 
Fulfill thy mission, wearying though it be, 
Jesus himself shall walk the path with thee ; 
Angels of love on all thy steps attend, 
And pitying souls their sweetest succor lend. 



THB HEALING GIFT. 183 

Guard, as the fortress of thy sacred wealth, 
The priceless remnant of that shattered health; 
Keep all thy steps with vigilance and care, 
In even hands the healing cnp to bear, 
That so, pure soul to pure clay be allied, 
So bj- its God the Fane be sanctified ! 



TO G. S. B. 



Poet and Brother, loved and honored, more 

Than thy heart counts amid its treasured gains, 
Stint not, oh Prophet Bard ; thy soul to pour 

Even on barren fields, like Autumn rains : 
Thou might'st have built a throne where, long before, 

Fame would have sat, amid the echoing strains 
Of thy own harp ; had'st thou, more world-wise, sung 

Some mouthing Patriot's eulogistic rhyme, 
Some high-born dame's or maiden's praises rung. 

As a lithe trifler trolled an idle chime. 
Or, with less zeal of earnest passion, felt 

Thy gift's high sanctity, and at random thrown 
Truths taught by Nature, where thy spirit knelt, 

But even yet, proud Fame shall claim thee as her 
own! 



NELL. 



As a full blown orange-flower, 

As a pure white lily-bell, 
As a dark eye's matchless power, 

Art thou, O most beauteous Nell ! 

As the whisperings of the twilight, 
As the wavelet's gentle swell. 

As the mysteries of the midnight, 
Art thou, O mysterious Nell ! 

As a bright-lipped Fairy-maiden, 
Dancing o'er a flowery dell, 

"With all witching fancies laden. 
Art thou, O bewitching Nell ! 



186 NELL. 

As the fresh breath of the morning, 
As the fulhiesses, that dwell 

In the noontide's rich adorning, 
Art thou, O most glorious Nell 1 

As the sweet hymn of a blossom, 
As a soft-toned silver bell. 

As the incense-freighted bosom 
Of the rose, art thou, dear NeUI 

As the winking of bright star-beams, 
The strange histories they tell, 

The reveahngs of our rare dreams. 
Ever art thou, dreamy Nell ! 

Eve, the poets paint so queenly. 
In her beauty, ere she fell. 

Even when reigning most serenely, 
Scarce could rival thee, bright Nell ! 

Ripplings of the moon-lit ocean. 
Sunbeams in a crystal well. 

Every tranced, trancing motion, 
Images my graceful Nell ! 



18? 



Oh, the witchery of thy glances, 

Of thy red Ups matchless spell, 
Of the light and shade, that dances 

O'er thy face, thou saucy Nell I 

So entrancing is thy beauty, 

Thou hast learned its power well, 

'Tis with me no pleasant duty 

Thus to warn thee, thoughtless N-ell ! 

Fate with tempting charms hath crowned thee, 

Subtle as the airs of hell, 
Poisonous fruits lie all around thee, 

Periling thy peace, dear Nell ! 

'Gainst the sorcery of their power, 

Thy pure nature must rebel. 
Banish, from this very hour. 

Then: sad influence, gleeful Nell ! 

Won, by woman, down from Heaven, 

Poets sing, that angels fell, — 
Blameless, had their charmers, even 

Half thy glory, queenly Nell ! 



188 



Beauty challenges devotion, 

Proudest homage to compel, 
Consciousness in every motion 

Marks thy dangerous triumph, Nell* 

There 's a moral in my love-song ; 

Would its influence might dispel 
From thy soul, the thoughts that strove long 

To beguile thee, charmmg Nell ! 

O'er thy triumph's hour is ringing 

Time's remediless farewell ! 
Purer raptures should be springing 

In thy bosom, conquering Nell ! 

Thovi my memory hast treasured. 

That has given me the spell 
By which I thy thoughts have measured ; 

Pardon ! and still love me, Nell ! 



A SPIRIT-MOTHER'S PRAYER. 

TO H. H. DAY. 



'Tis thy mother ! and she presses 

Her -white hand upon thy head ; 
Pure the light of her caresses, 

As the perfume roses shed. 
Clasped are those hands in prayer. 

As in earnest, pleading tone 
She beseeches, 

" Have a care 

God almighty for my son, 
Let thy blessing, dearest Father, 

Ever fondly on hun rest ; 
Strength and courage may he gather 

From each trial ; to thy breast 
Father, clasp him, and thy love 

As a mantle round him folding, 
Shield him from the hungry drove — • 

Foes that, even now, are holding 



190 A SPIRIT-MOTHER'S PRAYER. 

Revels in their secret chambers, 

In the castle-holds of wrong : 
May Truth's sunlight, as it clambers 

To the roottree, be more strong 
Than the falsehoods that would -wrestle 

From the wronged the right away ; 
May the dove of promise nestle 

In his heart of hearts, alway ! 



" "Well I know he will not palter, 

Pledged he stands for truth and right ; 
Well I know he will not falter 

In the thickest of the fight. 
But, oh Father, dearest Father ! 

Most unequal is the strife, 
See'st thou not how thickly gather 

Clouds vindictive, tempest-rife ; 
Will they not, ere long, come breaking 

Over his beloved head ? 
Day by day the storm is waking 

To fresh anger, and its tread 
Booms as heavy as the thunder, 

And its glance of vengeful ire, 
As when lightning darts from under 

Thickest blackness, flashes fire ! 



A SPIRIT-MOTHEE'S PRAYER. 191 

" Father keep him, oh, I pray thee 

Let his faith and love endure ; 
Let his strength still as his day be, 

God thy promises are sure : 
Thou hast said that thou would'st take him 

Under thy especial care, 
And I know thou 'It not forsake him 

Yet, oh hear a mother's prayer. 



" 'Tis in vam I seek to smother 

This too apprehensive love ; 
Oh ! forgive, forgive a mother 

If, for such a son, she prove 
Sometimes mindless of our other. 

Sterner duties, in her care 
That this unrelenting pother 

Scourge him not to flat despair, 
Scourge him as the angry ocean 

Scourges the resoundhig shore; 
Oh, amid each wild commotion 

God protect him evermore !" 



A VISION. 



Just as my spirit left its clay, this eve, 

And darkness settled down ; 
And my whole being seemed dissolved in air, — 
Thrilled on my spirit ear a music-strain 
Soothing and sweet, and on its mellow weaves 
There came faint gleamings of the whitest light, 

Pervading all my thought-sky. 
Star after star, came leaping with glad smiles. 
Into this realm of song, and all the heavens 
With glory -beaming brightness were aglow ! 
In this effulgence, kindred to the light, 

Or as it were the light. 

The music rose and fell ; 
Now soaring to profound sublimities. 
Anon to all sweet cadences descending. 
Instinct with life, it seemed, and bore me \ip, 



A visioisr. 193 

On its irradiant, v/hite wings, 
Into the realms of perfectness and peace ; 
How shall I speak that pei-fectness and peace ! 

Wrapped all around, and as it were. 
Steeped, in their most ethereal influences. 
My spirit, dripping with the honied dews 
Of their delight, hung paralyzed with bliss, 

Incapable of motion. 
Life's sparkling beaker to the brim was filled. 

Its foamy bubbles, breaking. 

Scattered their fragrant spray. 

Like incense over me. 
Oh, God ! the quick delight that flashed upon me, 
Flooding my spirit as with a sea of glory. 
Illuminating all its inmost depths 
With light's intensity ! Had not my senses 
Slept in the death-clasp of a clinging spell 
That held them in embraces strong as steel, 
Th^s glory had consumed all earthly life. 
I fioate • in an atmosphere of prayer, 
Each r ;piration was an inspiration ! 
Delici s dreamings, visions of delight, 
I couh have lingered in your beams forever ! 

Then I felt a hand on mine. 
Seemed it as the touch of thine, 



194 A VISION. 

And I straightway turned to see 
What thy questioning might be ; 
'T was Lucinda's gentle face, 
'T was her sisterly embrace. 

Then a curtaining silence fell, 
And embraced us in its spell. 
And her arm was round me thrown, 
As a strong protecting zone ; 
And I nestled still more near 
Her sweet bosom, filled with fear. 

Motion I in vam essayed. 

All my being shrunk dismayed. 

At the splendor hanging o'er her, 

Cold, as the pale Odorata 

Hangs at midnight o'er the wave. 

But her heart beat " stout and brave. 

" Wherefore timid spirit, now, 
Should'st thou shrink, and tremble so 
Filled with joy thy soul should be, 
Chaistning bends in love o'er thee ; 
See ! he beckons thee away, 
Hasten, hasten, to obey !" 



-v^ 



A VISION. 



195 



With a gladsome, sweet surprise, 
Lifted I my drooping eyes, 
Unto Ms ; in either one 
Flashed there such a bhnding sun, 
That beneath their lids, in pain, 
Mine concealed themselves again. 

" Now his glory is more dim, 
Thou canst look undaz'd on him." 
Lucy said. I looked, and lo ! 
Such a rapture lit his brow, 
Such a heavenly halo shed 
Sweetest luster o'er his head, 
That my owm I meekly bent. 
As a mm before her saint. 

Then he took my hand in his. 
Oh, of all the memories 
That I cherish, of the past, 
This shall Imger, till the last, 
O'er my future like a star. 
Sorrow can not dim, nor mar ! 



Gentle daughter !" whispered he. 
Thou shalt, as I come to thee. 



196 A VISION. 

See this light about thee shine ; 
Of my presence 'tis the sign. 
In the future I will come 
Often, to thy earthly home. 

" And in sorrow, pain, or care, 

Or when evil lays its snare, — 

In thy every trial hour. 

Thou shalt feel the soothing power 

My protection can impart, 

To support, and cheer thy heart. 

" I have loved thee, maiden mild ! 
Since that evening, when a child, 
Timid as a fa,wn, and wild. 
Artless, and as undefiled, 
In thy young simplicity. 
Thou a lesson taught'st to me.'' 

Then, adown the heavens bended, 
And a fiery ball descended, 
As the moon appears at times. 
When the eastern hill she cUmbs, 
"With her garments, ciirason red. 
O'er the misty orient spread. 



A VISION. 197 

Thus intensely luminous 
Fell the ball, till near to us ; 
Just above his head it broke, 
And involved him in a smoke, 
Thin, and clear, and silvery bright, 
As a vapor, fleecy white. 

Round and round him it did twine. 
Hid his matchless form divine, 
As a vail of silky gauze ; 
And amid the breathless pause 
That succeeded our amaze, 
Slow he faded from our gaze. 

Then, such strains of music, burst, 
As through Paradise, of erst. 
When transcendent echoes rang 
To the birth-song angels sang, 
Of creation's natal mom. 
Ere a soul in clay was born. 

Louder, clearer, came the swell ; 
As the sea, it lose and fell. 
Each succeeding wave more vast. 
More controlling^ than the last. 



198 



'Till beyond endurance, blest, 
Upon Lucy's sheltering breast 
Sank I, as a babe to rest. 

" Let me linger here !" I cried 
" Oh Lucinda, I have tried, 
Long enough, the walks of life ; 
Shelter ! save me ! from the strife 
Of affliction, toil, and care, 
My attendants, every where !" 

" Dearest child ! it may not be ; 
Go, fulfill thy destiny ! 
Blessings, clustering around. 
Give thee wealth but seldom found ; 
ToU, and cross, and shame, abide ! 
Triumph waits the crucified. 



THE NEW REVELATION. 



Feom highest Heaven a spirit voice, to-night, 
Speaks to my soul, in accents fine and clear, 
List for a moment, gentle friends, and hear 

The tones come, fluttering as the boreal Hght ; 
And now I catch the burden of the theme. 

" Rejoice, that earth beholds a better day, 

And heaven is opened through a surer way 
Than flitting shadows, and imperfect dream. ! 

Ye hear the whispers of the Angel-band, 
"With God himself ye hold communion high, 

And feel the consecration of his hand. 
The inspiration of his cloudless eye ! 

Oh, be ye faithful, ye who are beUeving, 

Perfect your spirits for more full receiving." 



SECRET WORTH. 



Theie choicest odors will the roses keep ; 

Their brightest beauties in vailed bosoms cling ; 
The drowsy minstrels, love-lured, nestle deco, 

Unseen and tuneful in their hearts to sing : 
Clothed in a language few can comprehend, 

Their sacred hymnings cunningly they pc ', 
They best interpret who in reverence bend, 

Learning by love mysterious Nature's loi . 

Rivers that move with calm and stately motion, 

And lesser streams that bear them company 
To the unfathomable depths of ocean. 

Vail half their glories from the common eye. 
From lordly oaks that skirt the mountain's brow, 

To the green cedars of the shady vale. 
Through each and all, sublimest meanings flow, 

Each hath its lore occult, and mystic tale. 



SECRET WORTH. 201 

And soiils of noble strain alone may read 
The lessons folded in their secret core ; 

Thus of our souls, heroic thought and deed, 
With reverent love, command the firmest door. 

Like a sweet rose-bud doth thy sj^irit seem, ' 

Not half its perfume, half its charms revealed ; 
As the arbutus in dry leaves will gleam. 

Betrayed by incense when the most concealed. 
I know that thou art beautiful right well, 

Though but the image of thy soul I see, 
But such a soul must permeate its shell 

With light-floods, refluent for intensity. 
Then, Lady ! seek not from true hearts to hide 

The charms that make thee blessed upon earth ; 
For such the loftiest bards have glorified. 

And lowliest hearts grow gladdened in theii- worth. 

9* 



X 



THE DEAD BABY. 



A SPIRIT api^roached me I knew not before 
Who sang me this lay of the baby she bore. 

" This child in my bosom, but yesterday hung 
On the breast of its mother, who joyfully sung 
Such sweet baby-lays, that the seraphs above 
Hung o'er the blest twain, m the transjjorts of love. 
The child raised its eyes to the jubilant band, 
And with gleeful surprise it threw up its white hand 
"With a beckoning gesture, as if it would fain 
"Woo the beautiful beings on earth to remain. 

" Then they hovered stiU neai'er the mother and son, 
So near that the child caught their low under-tone. 
A moment, all motionless over the pair. 
They hung in a silence, profound as the pray'r 
A dying saint offers, unuttered, to God, 
Ere his rapt spirit liies to the blissful abode. 



THE DEAD BABY. 203 

" Then, fleet as the Ughtning, a seraph most fair, 

With wings ever brightening, as through the hvished air 

She glided, came down to the baby, so near, 

She Avhispered a mystical word in his ear ; 

Then the rose on his cheek grew as white as the snow. 

His pouting red lips lost their rich, ruddy glow ; 

O'er the love-beaming eyes the veined lids closed, 

His dimpled hands folded, as if he reposed. 

Unbroken the vigil that mother still keeps. 

As she thinks, how profoundly her little one sleeps ! 

" Oh, bUssful young mother ; alas ! for the joy. 

The pride, hope, and love, centered all m thy boy ! 

The soft, tmy hand, thy warm fingers enfold. 

To ivory stiffening, grows ivory cold. 

She bent her quick ear, his low breathing to hear, 

Oh God ! how she shook with a shivermg fear ! 

No sweet coming breath, from his lips, met her own, 

And the Httle plump cheek was as cold as a stone ! 

The blood to her heart shuddered back mth a bound. 

And she sank, a new Niobe, smote to the ground. 

" Oh, blissful reprieve, from the swift-coming woes ! 
Too soon, yet too soon, from that trance she arose, 
Locked around her dead babe, firm as steel is her grasp. 
In vain is the struggle her hands to unclasp. 



204 THE DEAD E A B Y . 

She hears not, she sees not, she deigns no replies, 
But frantic, and wild, are her heart-rending cries. 

" ' I will not believe it ! this can not be death ! 
He is sleeping, sweet baby ! I hear his low breath ; 
See, how closely he presses his cheek to my breast ; 
Oh, do not, I pray you, disturb his calm rest ! 
Hard-hearted ! ye never shall pile the cold clod, 
'Twixt my baby and me, oh ! forbid it my God!' 

" Poor, grief-stricken mother, 'tis Avell, for the day, 
That thy senses, bewildered, should wander away. 
But when they return, may they gladden, to hear 
The voice of thy darling sing clear, from the sphere, 
"Where, crowned with Immortelles, and vestured in 

Avhito, 
He walks with light ange'.s, an angel of light !" 



VIRGIN ISLAND. 



Afar in the west is a sunny isle 

That is only lighted by Woman's smile ; 

In all its bound may no man be found, 

And to woman's voice replies no sound, 

But of singing birds, and the minstrelsy 

Of swinging boughs in the forests free, — 

Of gurgling brooks, and the rippling rills, 

And hymns of sweet flowers on sunny hills, — 

And glossy blades of the laughing gi-ass 

Kissing our feet as we softly pass, — 

And wood-nymphs, by Zephyr borne, bending above 

The Ocean's blue surges, wooing the love 

Of beautiful sylphs, who gambol and play 

With the foam-crested waves, or lovingly lay 

Their frolicsome heads on the white billows breast, 

Whose low, hushing lullaby, soothes them to rest. 



206 VIRGIN ISLAND. 

And O, in this Isle of the Lily and Rose, 
All crimson-lipped joys fold their wings in repose ; 
And could I but burst my flesh-fetters I 'd soar 
On pinions of light to this sweet Island shore, 
With gay gladsome spirits to frolic and sing. 
Where Winter ne'er darkens our life's joyous Spring ! 
But man may not enter this bright Isle, so you 
May as well make your bow; with respect sir — adieu. 



PHANTASY. 



" TiNy Acorn" 

Was the first born 
Of the friendship felt for thee; 

Then the proud oak 

Still more loud spoke 
To thy inmost soul of me. 

Gentle Lady, 

I conveyed thee 
Many thoughts thou lovest well, 

And have brought thee 

Every thought free, 
Fit to hold thee by their spelL 

Life's hard lesson 
Finds expression 
In the rippling of thy rhymes, 



208 PHANTASY. 

As a river, 
Flowing ever, 
To all mingling, tingling chimes. 

Somewhat mazy, 

Somewhat crazy. 
Was I in that lower sphere ; . 

It would weary, 

Should I tarry 
For an explanation here. 

In the dead light 

Of the midnight, 
I have sought thee as thou slept ; 

When the gleamings 

Of bright dreamings 
Have across thy bosom swept ; 

Thou 'St not known me 
Though I 've shown thee 

Clear as light, the name I bore, 
When a Wanderer, 
Weary Wanderer, 

On time's uncongenial shore. 



I'll A NT A ST. 209 

To the serious, 

How mysterious 
Are these inspirations high ; 

I have Ustened, 

While tears glistened, 
Even in my spirit eye ; 

Not for sadness, 

But deep gladness, 
That, from out this tangled mesh 

Of confusing. 

Harshly bruising 
Chains, and fetters of the flesh, 

The pure soul, at 

Last, the goal had 
Found, through death's tartarean gloom ; 

And the aurora 

Of Life's morrow 
Burst resplendent from the tomb. 

Oh surrender 

Every tender, 
Lofty, feeling of thy soul. 

Each upspringing 

Fancy, winging 
Onward to this glorious goal. 



210 PHANTASY. 

Brighter beauties 

Higher duties, 
Will the future bring to thee. 

Oh, be careful, 

Watchful, prayerful, 
Thus to keep thy spirit free. 

Thou art twinmg 

Of this rhyming 
A bright amaranthine wreath, 

Pure and fadeless. 

As the shadeless 
Flowers beyond the shores of death. 

Radiating 

Consecrating 
Odors pure, and high, and good. 

Near the Father 

Thou shalt gather 
Heavenly manna for thy food. 

I, a maker, 

Am partaker 
Of the feeUngs that have thrilled 

Thy mind-ocean 

With emotion. 
That has all its ripples stilled. 



PHANTASY. 211 

And I linger 
Near each singer, 

That on earth can find a voice, 
At the holy- 
Songs they troll, I 

Joy, and evermore rejoice. 

Oak leaves rarest 

Of the fairest 
Coloring to thee I throw, 

On their faces 

Are the traces 
Of the name of— who shall know ? 



LITTLE MOSS ROSE. 



A LOVELY rose-bud in the sun sliine blowing, 
Simple and modest, and as sweetly wild, 
As though young Zephyr nursed it as her child, 
Art thou wee Pet ; so innocently growing 
Upon the parent stem, whUe sun and dew 
Still foster thee, with care the tenderest, 
And spirits hover over the green nest 
"Which shelters thee. Happy for thee, while yet 
Thou art not tempted from this safe retreat, 
By the gay sunshine of the world aUuring, 
Where prouder beauties glance with more assuring 
Effluence and color, but how far less sweet 
Than thou bright budling, O then linger here 
God and his angels are so very near. 



HELPING HANDS. 



" Beautiful spirits, gloriously fair !" 
Over my Alfred bend, with loving care ; 
Let him behold you, feel your presence near, 
Oh, bear him tidmgs from this holy sphere ! 
Tell him, sweet angels, that his faithful wife 
Walks Avith him, mutely, through the scenes of life, 
An ever-helping, ever-cheering power, , 
She bends above him in the trial hour ; 
A mellower sunbeam in his joyous air, 
She comes unseen, and warms him unaware. 
Oh, had my heart a language, it would tell 
Such thrilling stories of the homes where dwell 
Eternal pleasures, beyond doubt, and strife. 
That death should seem the perfectness of life ! 

" Beautiful spirits, gloriously fair !" 

As earthward, now, ye cleave the throbbing air, 



214 HELPING HANDS. 

Across his pathway throw a radiant light, 
Let heavenly visions dawn upon his sight ; 
Let Love's enchantment kindle every scene 
His fancy pictures ; with a brow serene 
May meek-eyed Faith so near the blest abode 
Lead his tried spirit, to a pardoning God, 
That Hope's forecast fruition may be given 
To his croAvned spirit, in the bowers of heaven. 



PAULINE, 



White browed Anemones, daughters of the sun, 
And blue-eyed violets, with the mignonette, 
And pale pink roses with the valley's pet, 
The myrtle, iris, lily, every one 
Becomes a sweet Interpreter of thee ; 
And as I hst the voices of thy soul. 
So soft and gentle, yet in their control 
Strong and subduing, clearly do I see 
The latent strength that slumbers in thy spirit, 
Where lofty faith with aspirations high, 
And holy loves keep closest company, 
Building the heaven predestined soul's inherit. 
Oh, the sweet influence of thy soul on mme 
Is Uke an efiiuence of the most Divine! 



THE JEWELED HEAVENS. 



Oh, be silent ! spmt voices, 
Singing, ringing, reach my ear, 

Throbbing pulses, hush your noises; 
Let me hear ! more clearly hear ! 

Stay, oh stay this tide of feeling ; 

Trembling heart, lay fear aside ; 
Senses, shocked to sudden reehng, 

Look to Him, the Glorified ! 



Fervently your white arms reaching, 
In the silence lift your prayer, 

With lips mute in their beseeching, 
Spirit raeeldy bending, where 



THE JEWELED HEAVENS. 217 

His light footsteps flashes beauty 

On the mountains, as he goes ; 
So the twin eyes, faith and duty, 

To the spirit shall disclose 

Such intensely brilliant gl earnings 

Of the home where spirits dwell, 
That the Poet's wildest dreamings 

Were too faint, its worth to tell. 

I have seen its mingled glories. 

Flashing intermittent gleams, 
Far beyond the gorgeous stories 

Of the heaven of orient dreams! 

Jacinth, heliotrojje, and sapphire, 

Amethyst, and topaz bright, 
Red comehans flashing fair fire. 

Sardonyx and chrysolite. 

The still varying opal's hue. 

The wierd agate's cloudy lines. 
Turquoise, Avith its heavenly blue. 

And the flashing almandines. 
10 



218 THE JEWELED HEAVENS. 

Diamonds, such as earth ue'er furnished 
For her proudest monarch's ci'own, 

Gems, so exquisitely burnished, 

That their rays Uke smibeams shone ; 

Rubies bright, and j^earls the fairest, 
Sea-hued beryls, jasper stones, 

And clear crystal forms, the rarest, 
And pellucid chalcedones. 

There the golden chrysoprasus 

Mingled ^dth the emerald's green, 

In a glory that surpasses 

All that mortal eye has seen. 

But surpassing all that splendor, 
Blazed the glory of the One, 

God-Uke strong, and child-Uke tender, 
Whom 'tis life to look upon ! 



I 



TO A. K. F. 



I. 



Oh conquering "Woman ! as I read thy heart, 

I see its fitness for high ministries, 
Manfully to perform thy chosen part, 

And filled with all diviner sympathies. 
Angels of goodness thee unseen surround, 

Still marshaling to deeds of high emprise ; 
With brightest bays thy forehead have they crowned. 

In laud of thy uncounted victories. 
Oh hero-soul. Life's temple dost thou build, 

Arches and columns, towers and glowing spires ; 
With incense of good deeds its halls are filled. 

And love to God kindles its altar-fires. 
As low withm its hallowed courts I kneel. 
Angels of love thy destiny reveal. 



TO A. K. F. 



n. 



On sister Spirit, still do I aspire 

To breathe some note of praise more worthy thee, 
With loving reverence, from my spirit-lyre 

Would I arouse its holiest symphony. 
Ah me ! I know full well, to souls like thine, 

With every dawn there evermore doth come 
Some sacrifice to lay on Duty's shrine, 

Some sterner conflict, deeper martyrdom ; 
And Pity's tears are falling, as I think 

Of all the sorrows gathering on thy way; 
From what a cup of anguish must thou drink, 

What dizzy heights, what dismal depths survey 
From out so black and storm-conflicting night. 
There must be bom a day of radiance bright. 



RECONCILIATION", 



Lydia ! my loving Sister, very sweet 

It is, and pleasant to my soul, to greet 

Thee in thy happy home of peace, aloof; 

Dear memories clustering 'neath its humble roof; 

But though with these, and thee, I find it blest 

To linger often, yet it were not best 

Too many a joy's unnerving sweets to prove, 

Darling, my sister, dearest in my love. 

When first my soul, led by our mother's hand, 
In robes of glory sought the spirit land. 
Thy anxious care, and earnest tenderness, 
So lured it back to pity and caress, 
With lingering fondness for awhile I hung, 
Sometimes o'er thee, sometimes to Alfred clung, 
Oftener to thee, for thus through Dora's voice 
I found fit speech to bid tliy heart rejoice ; 



222 KE CONCILIATION. 

And breathing so her spirit strong and meek, 
I learned to love her as I learned to speak. 

But though, dear Lydia, I am fain to chng 

Around thee so, love's messages to bring, 

Yet for a season I must needs release 

My hold upon you, and my words must cease, 

I can not linger when such glories rise 

Kindling before me in the eternal skies ; 

I feel within my inmost spirit burn 

Earnest desire the angel's songs to learn, 

But not the more can your dear memories fade 

Nor heaven's full glory quench the light ye shed, 

Though far I wander on my glowing track. 

Ere long, be sure, my soul shall travel back, 

With bright revealings from my bUssful sphere, 

And the soft splendors that surround me here. 

But one more word, dear Lydia, I would say, 
Be not so anxious for the time and way. 
The wrong and doubtful from the true and right 
WUl fade, as darkness fadeth fi"om the hght. 
I stood beside thee all that night of grief 
Longing, but powerless, to bestow relief; 
Still all untroubled, for I saw how clear 
The sun of Trust would rise again, to cheei*. 



reconcihatio:n^. 223 

On a Spring's bosom did'st tliou never trace 
Perfect reflections of thy form and face, 
And gazing seen some leaflet flutter down 
On its fair surface ? thus, sometimes, is thrown 
A rufiiing shadow o'er the depths of mind, 
Bhirring an image faithfully enshrined, 
A breath will dim the purest mirror's flice. 
So may a thought, from other minds, eftace 
From Dora's soul the messages we send. 
Or if not all, some mist may with them blend, 
Leaving their beauty but in fitful gleams ; 
A troubled slumber giveth troubled dreams. 

Be calm and patient, ever trusting take 

What comes of worthy, for its own worth's sake. 

The sweetest featiu'e of this lovely sphere 

Is, that no self can ever enter here, 

Nothing of earth's conflicting mine and thine^ 

But all is mutual, loving, and divine. 



RENUNCIATION 



Gently ! touch me gently, Brother ! 

Ah, methinks thou now can'st see 
AH the grief I sought to smother, 

In my inmost soul, for thee. 

Tenderly thy name is cherished, 

Faithfully thine honor kept. 
But for evermore hath perished 

The strange passion, once which swept 

O'er me, as a storm o'er ocean, 

As a whirlwind, or a fire, 
KindUng, to intense emotion, 

Every sensuous desire ! 



KKNUNCI ATI ON. 225 

Every tendril of fine feeling, 

Seemed aroimd thy strength to grow ; 
Every passionate reveaUng, 

Took a more impassioned flow ; 

Till my spirit-life seemed fading, 

Fading, withering, as a flower, 
Which the hot hand of the Day King 

Clutches, with too fierce a power. 

Raise thou not a hushuig finger ; 

I must speak, and thou must hear ! 
Never an impassioned singer 

Chanted notes more deep, and clear. 

Had I loved thee truly, purely, 

I had never lost that truth ; 
Had thy love been wiser, surely 

Better were it now, for both. 

Better ! no ; I would say, rather, 

It were better as it is, — 
Better for the strength I gather, 

From a lesson learned Uke this. 
10* 



226 RENUNCIATION. 

For the troth kiss to thee plighted, 
Never could have been, to me, 

Like the pure flame I have lighted 
At the fires of Calvary. 

Mid the jarring of my heart strings. 
Sweetest symphony awoke, 

As when, with clear notes, a bard sings 
In a battle's storm and smoke. 



And it calmed my every feeling, 
Soothed my passion's wildest cry, 

Till each sense sank, reverent, kneeling 
At the Cross imploringly. 

Oh, I pray thee, do not tarry, 
One memorial hour with me, 

Since I never more can carry 
The old tenderness for thee. 

As a brother, brother only. 
Do I clasp thy proffered hand, 

And my feelings, gay or lonely. 
Thou canst never more command. 



KENUNCI ATI ON. 227 

Go, I can not need thy presence ; 

Leave me, from this fleeting hour ; 
Or thy memory, as a pleasance, 

"Will have lost its charmed power. 

Let the dear old past be treasured, 

As a something sacred still ; 
I, its loftiest heights who measured, 

Its profoundest deeps can fill. 

Of that past I learn to borrow 

Hope's serenest guiding star, 
Not a rack of dark'ning sorrow 

Its effulgency can mar. 

From that past a power is stealing. 

Silently, and all divine, 
And its hoUest reveahng 

I have made forever mine. 



Leave thou, leave the few pale roses, 
That within my spirit bloom. 

For the hues then* heart discloses. 
And the sweets of their perfume. 



228 KENUNCIATION. 

Surely, pale and scentless seeming, 
Must they be, to sense and eyes, 

Gladdened by the gardens, gleaming 
With the flowers olC. Paradise. 

Go ! these ears no more shall listen 
To that Avinning voice of thine, 

And these eyes no longer glisten 
With pale feeling's treacherous sign. 

. For the future, now, must prove me 
Strong in purpose, firm, and still ; 
Passion never more shall move my 
Deep, unfaltering, springs of will. 



1 



